Obsolete rules, low ICT affecting workers’ productivity in Nigeria ― Ekiti HoS

The Ekiti State Head of State, Mrs Peju Babafemi, has declared that obsolete public service rules and poor access to Information and Communication Technology (ICT) gadgets are two main factors affecting the productivity of civil servants in the country.

The Head of Service said the Ekiti State government has been been working hard to reposition the civil service and make it more functional by reviewing its rules and raise the bar of standardisation in doing government’s businesses.

Babafemi spoke in Ado Ekiti, the state capital at the weekend at an event commemorating the 2021 edition of the Africa Public Service Day.

Describing the Civil Service as the engine room of any government, she noted that no government can function effectively under the 21st century while still relying on the old-fashioned rules.

She said Governor Kayode Fayemi’s Administration is resolute to restructure the state public service through an effective legal framework that can promote welfarism, innovations, compliance to rules and bolstering access to digital equipment.

According to her, “Some of the provisions in the present Civil Service Rules are obsolete and they have to be reviewed. We need to make them 21st century compliant.

“That was why we have brought stakeholders, including technocrats, political office holders and civil servants occupying strategic positions on how to look for ways we can review these rules for effective service delivery.

“Under this review, there would be a need for our workers to be disciplined and productive, there will be a need for them to embrace ICT and there will be a reward mechanism for better productivity.

“When a government comes with good ideas, it will depend on technocrats in the civil service for implementation. So, we are coming up with more robust rules that can promote efficiency in our day to day activities.”

Giving an overview of the revised rules, the Permanent Secretary, Office of Establishment and Service Matters, Mr Bayo Opeyemi, revealed that some of the reviewed provisions were targeted at fostering discipline and quick response to issues that could affect governance positively.

The Chairman, Ekiti State Civil Service Commission, Mr Olubunmo Famosaya, suggested that the review should focus on ICT, paternity leave and life insurance for all workers, saying,” this is the best way to make it holistic.”

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