LAGOS State governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, on Thursday said the state has led the way in reducing waste while increasing productivity, pointing out that the gain was partly the result of the extensive investments in knowledge and skills by his administration.
Governor Ambode disclosed this while speaking at the training session for top civil servants organised by the State’s Ministry of Establishments, Training and Pensions with the theme: “Adopting the Lean Process Improvement Culture in the Civil Service to Further Reduce Waste and Optimise Productivity.”
The governor, who was represented by the Commissioner for the Ministry, Dr Akintola Benson Oke, while noting that the importance of eliminating waste cannot be overemphasised, observed that countless studies had shown that with good and sound processes relating to management of time and resources, meagre resources can be extended to produce outstanding results.
The governor, while insisting that organisations and individuals can achieve more with less, said it was in pursuit of this objective that his administration had to approve the ongoing training for civil servants in the state.
“The ultimate objective of this training is to identify and codify the methods, means and strategies for ensuring that the Lagos State Civil Service is positioned to do more with less.
“At the end of this training, the Lagos State Civil Service and her officers should be able to produce even more outstanding results with less money, less personal, and in less time. This, at the end of the day, is ultimate productivity.
“Furthermore, it frees up resources, both human and capital, for investment in other competing fronts for the benefit of the good people of Lagos State,” Governor Ambode said.
The governor, while applauding the mode of operations that had produced better results in private sector, said, “Indeed, it would be a great achievement if the Lagos State Civil Service is able to import the principles of lean operations from the private sector and apply them, mutatis mutandis, to the operations of the public sector.”
“Now, I will be the first to acknowledge that, as has been well documented, persuading people to embark on the lean journey, where the last stop may be their own removal or reassignment, is not easy.
“To succeed, public sector organisations must find a way to align their growth strategy- providing new and better services at limited cost- with regard to the interests of their workers.
“Although lean programmes may cut the number of public sector jobs, the goal is to make the remaining ones more rewarding. Incentives come from the prospect of more meaningful work, potentially with room for greater autonomy or a chance to develop new skills,” Governor Ambode added.
The governor, therefore, urged all participants in the training to actively participate in the discussions and contribute meaningfully to realising the objectives of the exercise.
According to him, it is in the best interest of the state to do so, saying, “this is because if the Lagos State Civil Service is able to perfect the art of lean management and operations, the service will become able to eliminate the so-called ‘Three Sources of Loss,’ which are waste, variability, and inflexibility.”
Speaking earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Establishments, Training and Pensions, Mrs Rhoda Ayinde, described the theme of the training, “Adopting the Lean Process Improvement Culture in the Civil Service to Further Reduce Waste and Optimise Productivity,” as apt, contending that the training was not only going to make the participants relevant and more productive at their various duty posts, but would also be useful for them at home as they deal with issues of fewer resources at their disposal.
“You are here to learn and relearn what you have learnt to make you gain more knowledge,” she said.
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