By Stella Omona
The 44th Meeting of the National Council on Establishments (NCE) has commenced in Yola, Adamawa state.
The Officials of the Council made up of Permanent Secretaries in charge of Establishments and related matters from the thirty-six (36) states of the Federation, including the Federal Capital Territory were present to deliberate on issues concerning the Public Service for the purpose of advancing the cause of the service towards ensuring accelerated national development.
In his speech at the formal opening of the Technical Session of the NCE, the Permanent Secretary, Service Policies and Strategies Office (SPSO), Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation and the Chairman of the Session, Mr. Okokon Ekanem Udo, reminded the delegates of their vital roles of repositioning the service for better and quality service delivery.
“It is our responsibility to facilitate informed decisions on establishments and other related matters in order to enhance industrial harmony, efficient and effective service delivery for the wellbeing of the citizenry, and facilitate sustainable economic growth and development.
“It is our duty to protect the image and interest of both the Public Service and Public Servants” he stated.
Udo encouraged the states to commit more time, efforts and other resources to the acceleration of capacity building and talent management through training and retraining of staff, leadership management and succession planning.
He tasked the states on institutionalization of performance management system to replace APER; improvement in Integrated Personnel Payroll Information System (IPPIS) – Human Resource (HR) Module to achieve a clean payroll. Other areas are; nstitutionalization of innovation; acceleration of digitalization of content services to improve work processes and fast-track decision making; enhancement of value proposition for Public Servants through a comprehensive package of staff welfare programmes such as housing loan, transport scheme, salary harmonization, reward and recognition, which the Federal Civil Service is currently implementing to boost national growth and development.
While expressing optimism on the high level of seasoned technocrats present at the Meeting, the Permanent Secretary, SPSO, urged the participants to look at the memoranda objectively and make dispassionate recommendations that will guide the Council in taking informed decisions that will transform the service.
While welcoming the audience, the Head of Service of Adamawa State, Dr. Edgar Amos Sunday, promised a peaceful and safe environment for the participants, as he wished them fruitful deliberation and formerly declared the session open.
It would be recalled that the NCE is made up of two sessions namely, the Technical Session, consisting of the Permanent Secretaries in charge of Establishments and related matters including the considerations of memoranda from various states and chaired by the Permanent Secretary, Service Policies and Strategies Office, OHCSF while the second session is made up of the Heads of Service of the 36 States of the Federation with the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Dr, Folasade Yemi-Esan as the Chairman.
