Akpabio calls for development of the Nation's Workforce

Godswill Akpabio
Akwa Ibom Governor, Chief Godswill O. Akpabio says for Nigeria to develop to its optimum capacity, the nation's workforce must be at thepeak of its performance at all times.

Akpabio who made the remark Thursday at the opening of a two-day meeting on the review of the public sector capacity development programme organized by Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation at the Le Meridien Ibom Hotels and Golf Resort, Nwaniba stressed the need for staff training and sundry programmes to develop the capacity of the public servants.

He revealed "The Akwa Ibom example will suffice here. Staff training and sundry programmes to develop the capacity of our public servants are on our priority. Under this initiative, all cadres and grades of our officers have benefitted from one training or the other, both at home and abroad. Our human resource development is such that is programmed to impart to our public personnel knowledge, skill and information necessary for efficient performance of their duties in this 21st Century".

"Furthermore, we have put in place structures, processes and ample procedures to ensure efficient synergy between the public and private sectors of our state's economy. We have also institutionalized legal frameworks to enable organizations, institutions and agencies operating in our state to work at full capacity for the attainment of our goals and objectives as a developing state in Nigeria", the Governor explained.

Akpabio who saluted the theme of the meeting "Building a Virile Civil Service: Leadership and Capacity Building as the Driving Force's noted the Nigeria has great potentials as a nation, but it is only through hard work it can become a true giant and veritable pride to the black race.

He thanked the Head of Service of the Federation on his commitment to the re-invigoration of the nation's public service and the on-going reform programme, stating "His few years as the Head of Civil Service of the Federation have been eventful and I believe that even after his tenure his imprints shall be worthy landmarks in service delivery in our Country".

The Head of Service of the Federation, Mr. Stephen Oronsaye remarked the a nation is as great as the value of skills and competences that it has as asset base to drive its policies and programmes, pointing out "We had embarked on the on-going reforms in the Civil Service in order to develop and expand that asset base towards the mass, scope and quality of personnel that would possess requisite capacities to manage and support result-oriented and strong civil administrative system".

 
Oronsaye recalled that in 2008, the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation initiated elaborate country-wide capacity building programme with funding from the Debt Relief Gains. The exercise has since taken cognizance of the skill gaps, customized its courses and training modules as required. Our current target is towards the expertise environment and disposition required for the management of the reforms and Vision 20:2020".

He emphasized that the partnership with states has resulted in 5,141 officers in the 36 states and FCT benefitting from the training programme.

Akwa Ibom Head of Civil Service, Mrs. Grace Anwana thanked the governor for his benevolence in hosting and the Federal Head of Civil Service, Mr. Oronsaye for bringing the meeting to Uyo convened to assess the extent and level of commitment exhibited by various states of the Federation on the implementation of the public sector capacity building project.

Anwana hinted "We have deliberately exposed almost all our officers to various training and capacity building programmes as well as initiated motivating welfare packages to boost their morale and ginger them to put in their very best at work".

 


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