No plan to streamline workforce – FG

THE Federal Government has said that it has no plan to streamline the workforce but doing everything possible to improve the welfare of the workforce especially in the areas of housing, health and pension matters.

Government has also revealed that efforts were on going to ensure the digitalisation of records in the Federal Public Service to improve efficiency in the service.

Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Winifred Ekanem Oyo-Ita, made this known on Monday in Abuja during an interactive session with participants of class 22 of the Policy, Strategy and Leadership Course of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, (NIPSS) Kuru, Jos.

She disclosed that her office had recently embarked on the verification exercise of Directorate level officers in all the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of the Federal Government.

The exercise, she said was designed to produce accurate bio-data of this level of officers for informed leadership and succession planning in the Federal Public Service, a statement by the Assistant Director, Media Relations HOS Office, Mr Mohammed Manga said.

The Head of Service advised participants of the course to develop policies that would move the country forward and to bring their intellectual ability into a positive process that would bring increased value to Nigerians.

Stressing further on the need for a value and cultural re-orientation among civil servants in the country, which she said is critical to ensure professionalism, self-esteem, loyalty and dedication in the service.

Mrs Oyo-Ita added that government was exploring the possibility of having in place a Performance Management System (PMS) that will be used to encourage diligent personnel by rewarding them and sanctioning erring ones.

She further said that since she took over the leadership of the Federal Civil Service, she was not only looking at how to reposition the service to be more efficient, productive, incorruptible and citizen-centred (EPIC), but also a service that will move from a cost centre to a revenue generating hub where the potentials of all revenue outfits in the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of the Federal Government are fully utilised.

It is in line with this thinking according to her that her office is considering the establishment of a commercial unit, Division or Department in addition to the Public Private Partnership (PPP) Unit as one of the Common Services in the MDAs of the Federal Government to help generate revenue to enhance social development.

Earlier, Mr Asipita Umar who led the participants on the visit said they were in the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation to be educated on its operations as it relates to human capital development.

He expressed optimism, that with a better partnership with the office, a viral civil service will evolve.

He assured that NIPSS is poised to working with government to build a dependable and reliable civil service. He said that the course is designed to address the policy and strategic skills in government, focused on human capital development.