GOVERNOR Rauf Aregbesola of Osun on Thursday tasked public servants in Nigeria to be more productive and efficient in the discharge of their duties, saying the development of the nation’s economy is predicated on their productivity.
This was as the state government honoured 170 workers in the state for exhibiting efficiency and diligence in the performance of their duties.
Aregbesola gave the charge at the Government Secretariat, Abere, while addressing workers during the Public Servants Award Presentation Ceremony organised to honour outstanding civil and public servants in the State, a programme initiated by the office of the Head of Service.
He expressed concern about low productivity in the country, particularly in the civil and public services, which he observed has affected the citizen’s national daily lives.
While appealing to Nigerians, especially the ‎bureaucrats to rise to the challenge by prioritising efficiency, productivity and competence in all they do, Aregbesola emphasised that the success of a nation lies in its production capacity.
According to him, “it is unfortunate that as big as we are, and as famous as we are as a nation, we still lack the required productivity and efficiency to succeed as a country. Our level of productivity as a people in Nigeria is abysmally low just as the menace has had a negative impact on our economy as a nation. We have the resources but we are not productive.”
“A country’s ability to develop its economy is dependent on how efficient and productive its workforce can be, so our productivity as a people in Nigeria is very low and this is affecting us. And very, unfortunately, our environment typifies the low level of our productivity and we have a lot to do to improve on,” Aregbesola remarked.
He continued, “you are the game changers and the significance is that you (civil servant) are capable of creating the reference for others by providing the template for efficiency and productivity. Every day you go to work, I want you to desire to improve on your yesterday’s performance at work, I want you to assess yourself to see if the input of your employer is higher or lower than your own input.”
In his remark, the Osun State Head of Service (HoS), Dr Olowogboyega Oyebade commended Aregbesola for being committed to the human and capital development of the state, stressing that the state government under the Aregbesola’s administration has provided an enabling environment and workable atmosphere for workers to thrive and perform their duties comfortably.
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