Gov Obaseki commences reforms in state civil service, launches SIFIMS

Obaseki stated this while inaugurating the State Integrated Financial Information Management System (SIFIMS) in Benin on Friday.

He said his administration was implementing SIFIMS to bring about reforms in the public service.

“Today is a significant day for us as a state as we have decided to launch our public service into a new era.

“This would not have happened if not for my predecessor, Mr Adams Oshiomhole, who saw the need for a technology driven society.

“Nigeria ‘worked’ before the civil war era because the civil service worked and the civil service worked because the right processes were put in place.

“We have decided to re-enact a process that will get government to work in the state,’’ he said.

Obaseki said the new process, which is technologically driven, would help to checkmate waste and conflicts in the state civil service.

He said it would also promote better budgeting and procurement processes as well as a better management of the state’s limited resources.

The governor admonished the civil servants on the ethics of their job urged them to key into the new process, own it and make it work.

“We have completed the process of acquiring 1000 computers for the sector. We want to ensure the provision of notebook pads for level 15 officers and above.

‘’We want to complete the Block C section of the state secretariat, provide wireless internet services in public offices and rebuild the ICT training centre in the state,” he said.

The Accountant General of the state, Mr Isaac Ehiozuwa, said plans had been completed to kick start the new process in Edo.

Ehiozuwa said the various directors in the department of administration, finance and accounts, permanent secretaries and other key players in the state’s civil service, had been duly trained to key into the process.