By Gbenga Sodeinde Ado Ekiti
Diligent workers in Ekiti State civil service have been awarded even as the state Head of Service, Mrs Peju Babafemi, lamented degradation of civil service in Nigeria.
Specifically, the Head of Service decried poor access to Information and Communication Technology (ICT) gadgets as another main factors affecting the productivity of civil servants as she lamented as a result of obsolete Public Service Rules in the country.
The Head of Service, said the Ekiti State government has been been working hard to reposition the civil service and make it more functional by reviewing its rules and raise the bar of standardisation in doing government’s businesses.
Babafemi spoke in Ado Ekiti on at an event commemorating the 2021 edition of the Africa Public Service Day.
Describing the Civil Service as the engineroom of any government, Babafemi noted that no government can function effectively under the 21st century while still relying on the old-fashioned rules.
She said the Governor Kayode Fayemi’s Administration is resolute to restructure the state public service through effective legal framework that can promote welfarism, innovations, compliance to rules and bolstering access to digital equipment .
“Some of the provisions in the present Civil Service Rules are obsolete and they have to be reviewed. We need to make them 21st century compliant .
“That was why we have brought stakeholders, including technicrats, political office holders and Civil servants occupying strategic positions on how to look for ways we can review these rules for effective service delivery.
“Under this review, there would be need for our workers to be disciplined and productive, there will be need for them to embrace ICT, and there will be reward mechanism for better productivity.
“When a government comes with good ideas, it will depend on technocrats in the civil service for implementation. So, we are coming up with more robust rules that can promote efficiency in our day to day activities”, Babafemi said.
Giving an overview of the revised rules, the Permanent Secretary, Office of Establishment and Service Matters, Mr. Bayo Opeyemi, revealed that some of the reviewed provisions were targeted at fostering discipline and quick response to isuues that can affect governance positively.
The Chairman,Ekiti State Civil Service Commission, Mr. Olubunmo Famosaya, suggested that the review should focus attentions on ICT , paternity leave and life insurance for all workers, saying this is the best way to make it holistic.
“ICT has become essential now for effective service delivery. Workers can do their works through messages on WhatsApp , e-mails and other social media platforms. All these can facilitate quick response to issues that have to do with government’s businesses”.
At the event, two categories of awards were given to deserving Officers to demonstrate the determination of the Office of the HoS in the repositioning of the Civil Service.
To the HoS, this will encourage the beneficiaries of the award to do more and ginger other workers to be encouraged to work harder especially at this period of new normal.
The Awardees are:
Category one: 2020 National Productivity Award
Dr Gbonjubola Olomojobi – PS, Ministry of Education Science and Technology. Mr Abayomi Opeyemi – PS, Office of Establishments and Service Matters, Mr Olajide Borode – GM, State Emergency Management Agency. Engr Johnson Adeola – Exec Sec, Ekiti State Electricity Board, Mrs Olusola Gbenga-Igotun – Director of Administration, Ministry of Health and Human Services.
In the second category, Outstanding Performance are: Mufutau Aremu Shittu, Director, Establishments & Management Services, Office of Establishments and Service Matters, Olusola Akinluyi, Deputy Director, Budget, and Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning
Others are : Ayodimeji Oni the Deputy Director, Programme Analyst, Office of the Accountant General, Felix Fagbamigbe, Assist Director, Medical Lab Science, Ministry of Health and Human Services Oluwaseyi Olawaiye. Asst. Chief Executive
Officer, and in the how of House of Assemblly we have Suleman Olakunle, Chief Confidential Secretary to Mr Governor, Office of the Governor Ronke Odetola Principal Legal Officer, Ministry of Justice and Rotimi Feyisina Principal Information Officer, Ministry of Information and Values Orientation.