Strategic planning key to achieving productivity in Lagos civil service ―Ambode

LAGOS State governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, on Tuesday, declared that strategic planning is the essential piece in the puzzle to institutionalise framework for productivity in the State Civil Service, saying that various efforts of his administration at training and retraining civil servants in the state were aimed at ultimately promoting productivity.

Governor Ambode said this at the opening of a 2-day training of civil servants organised by the State Ministry of Establishments, Training and Pensions, with the theme: “Strategic Planning in the Lagos State Civil Service: An Essential Piece in a jigsaw Puzzle, contending that several gains of such approach include allowing organisations to be proactive rather than reactive, set up a sense of direction and increase operational efficiency.

According to Governor Ambode, whose address was delivered by the Commissioner for Establishments, Training and Pensions, Dr. Akintola Benson Oke, strategic planning also assists the organisation to obtain valuable insights from its stakeholders and can make the organisation more adaptive to changing times.

Besides, the governor said adopting strategic planning approach in running an organisation would allow them to foresee their future and prepare accordingly, noting that a study carried out had since suggested that.

“Through strategic planning, organisations can anticipate certain unfavourable scenarios before they happen and take necessary precautions to avoid them.

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“With a strong strategic plan, organisations can be proactive rather than merely reacting to situations as they arise. Being proactive allows organisations to keep up with the ever-changing trends in the society and always stay one step ahead of the competition.

“A strategic plan helps to define the direction in which an organisation must travel, and aids in establishing realistic objectives and goals that are in line with its vision and mission,” Governor Ambode said.

The governor, however, said there was a need for organisations to have objectives, a timeline, a budget and the right leaders and team to develop strategic plan as “many planning exercises have been sub-optimized, derailed and/or delayed due to lack of planning.”

Governor Ambode said, to achieve this, it was incumbent on the decision-makers to take time to think about and engage the right people both internally and externally in the development of the plan, even as he said due-date must also be set for the job to be delivered.

“It is, therefore, important to have a clear deadline, as well as the necessary leadership to ensure the timeline is met and that all participants properly prioritise the process during the months that will be required to complete it,” he said.

The governor, while quoting various experts, including William A. Foster, who said among others that quality is never an accident but always the result of high intention, sincere effort, intelligent direction and skilful execution, said the workshop was thus informed by the need to heed the wisdom in those quotes.

“At the end of any rigorous enquiry, one finds that to have an effective strategy is half the battle and to effectively manage a good strategy is everything,” the governor said, noting that it was in pursuit of the vision for the State Civil Service that his administration had committed enormous value and investment “to the impartation of knowledge and skills.”

He, therefore, expressed hope that participants would pay attention and take full advantage of the opportunity afforded by the 2-day training.