THE Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission in partnership with DFID’s programme, Partnership to Engage, Reform and Learn (PERL) have facilitated the meeting of Heads of Service in the South West state where issues of good governance and reforms as tools for achieving development were discussed.
The Director-General of DAWN Commission, Mr Seye Oyeleye, while speaking at the meeting said the forum was aimed at deliberating on ways to strengthen, sustain and share governance reform programmes in the South West states.
The strategic Meeting which was held in Abeokuta, the Ogun State Capital was well attended and the HoS reaffirmed their commitment to DAWN and DFID-PERL’s programmes which are geared towards improving service delivery in the region.
Issues bordering on capacity development of the civil/public service personnel across levels and creation of a standard structure for coordinating reforms and warehousing reforms information were also discussed.
Oyeleye said the meeting afforded the Commission and its partner, DFID-PERL, the opportunity to discuss issues about public service reforms and the mechanisms that can engender and enable speedy development of the region.
He said the meeting was aimed at deliberating on ways to strengthen, sustain and share governance reform programmes in the South West states.
He highlighted major areas of opportunities that could be harnessed towards improving service delivery in each of the states.
Oyeleye emphasised the importance of the Public/Civil Service to the success of any Governments, particularly the pivotal role the Heads of Service play in the process of policy conceptualization and implementation.
He stressed the need for top government officials to throw their weight behind reform activities in their respective states in order to make it more credible and gain traction.
Mr Oyeleye, affirmed the unflinching commitment of DAWN Commission to continue to encourage the political Leadership of the six states to embrace and support various innovations and good practices aimed at achieving excellence in public service delivery.
In his goodwill message at the event, DFID Nigeria, Deputy Team Lead, Siaka Alhassan, reiterated the commitment of PERL as a public sector governance and accountability programme to provide technical support to the states by strengthening governance structures and processes for effective and efficient delivery of public goods in the Southwest region and in other states the programme is currently being implemented in Nigeria.
Also present at the meeting were other senior Civil Service officials across the Six States of the region.
At the end of the one-day strategic session, the Heads of Service and other top civil servants that attended the meeting pledged their commitment and support to sustain reform activities directed at improving the quality of service delivery to the citizens across the South West region.