Fast-track Digitization Process in MDAs, HoS tells Civil Servants

Fast-track Digitization Process in MDAs, HoS tells Civil Servants

In her continuous drive to re-orient and entrench the values of the Service for enhanced service delivery, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr. Folasade Yemi- Esan has called on innovation divisions and departments in Ministries, extra-Ministerial Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to take decisive actions at speeding up the digitalization process, so as to be able to fit into a technology-driven world.

Dr.Yemi -Esan, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Special Duties Office, (SDO), Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF), Engr. Faruk Yusuf Yabo, made the call, while declaring open a three-day Sensitization Training Programme for Staff of Service Innovation Divisions and Departments across some selected MDAs, which held from Wednesday 5th to Friday 7th, October, 2022, in Abuja.

According to her, the training is in tandem with the present Administration’s resolve to rebuilding and reforming the Service. Innovation is one of the key areas of the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan 2021 – 2025 (FCSSIP25), currently being implemented.

Dr. Yemi-Esan further explained that as one of the priority areas of FCSSIP25, it led to the establishment of an full fledged Innovation department in the OHCSF and Divisions in all MDAs, in August, 2020. She noted that the successes recorded in the first Public Service Innovation Challenge, in 2020, which attracted 168 participants was inspiring, disclosing that the third in the series will be coming up before the end of the year.

While recognising the strategic role of innovation in birthing a “New Civil Service,” the HoS encouraged participants to leverage more on technology in making informed decisions on how Public Servants are to be hired, trained and retrained, monitoring performances and delivering service in an efficient and effective manner. These, she further revealed, will reduce inequalities and rebuild trust in government businesses.

In his welcome address, the Permanent Secretary, Special Duties Office, (SDO), Engr. Yabo Yusuf Faruk, who was represented by the Director, Civil Service Inspectorate – OHCSF, Mrs. Olusanya Otelemeta, stated that Government has been making deliberate and concerted efforts toward reforming the Service with a view to enhancing accountability, improving policy decision making, as well as reducing corruption and minimizing wastage.

Engr. Yabo stressed that the Civil Service, being the engine room for formulating and implementing government policies, programmes and projects, must embrace innovation. He added that, “in view of its strategic position in the economic growth of Nigeria, stakeholders have unanimously agreed that it needs to be re-engineered, re-invigorated and repositioned for greater service delivery.”

M.A Ahmed,
Deputy Director, Communications.

9th October, 2022.