By Stella Omona
The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HoCSF), Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan, has called for the implementation of Performance Management System (PMS) in Ministries, Extra Ministerial Departments and Agencies (MDAs) saying it will ensure accountability and enhanced service delivery to the citizenry.
According to her, PMS holds individual employees accountable, identifies and dictates who, where and how faults in the delivery of service occur.
“The danger in running a public establishment that is unaccountable to the public is that it will progressively lose its responsiveness to the needs of the people and imminently erode its significance. “Hence, promoting accountability requires identifying who is to be held accountable to whom, for what and how.” She stated this at the opening of a workshop on the Implementation of a Modern Performance Management System in the Public Service in Abuja on Thursday.
Dr Yemi-Esan, who revealed that successive governments, since 1972 have been challenged on issues of accountability and improved performance.
She insisted that the introduction of the new PMS that has in it, other response systems that optimises performance and tracks government activities such as the Recognition and Reward system.
“One of the limitations of Annual Performance Evaluation Report (APER) is its inability to be linked to other key human resource elements such as rewards and recognition, discipline, succession planning, as well as learning and development,” she added.
The Head of Service hinted that Executive Order 012 on “Improving Performance Management, Coordination and Implementation of Presidential Priorities of the Federal Government of Nigeria” as issued by President Muhammadu Buhari, beholds on us, Civil Servants to implement, which makes it imperative for the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation to develop strategies for the actualization of these national goals.”
She highlighted the development of guidelines for the implementation of PMS, development and documentation of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), development of linkage frameworks, training of several officers on job objectives setting and handholding exercises, training of key Directors – Human Resource Management, Planning, Research and Statistics, among others, as measures taken to ensure the success of the implementation process.
In conformity with the digitalisation drive of the Office, Dr. Yemi-Esan, added that arrangement for an end-to-end user has been on-going and that PMS will begin by the first quarter of 2023.
While enjoining all to be committed to the new process, the HoCSF intimated that the Civil Service is no longer a haven for redundancy.
She maintained that change can no longer be resisted.
Permanent Secretary, Career Management Office, OHCSF, Engr. Marcus Ogunbiyi, affirmed that the new PMS provides a systematic process, setting targets, providing support for employees, as well as measuring results.
He added that it also provides a framework for continuous tracking of employees’ plans in a manner that is consistent and measurable for developing and improving their tactics to perform all their jobs and motivating them for greater productivity.
Engr. Ogunbiyi assured that the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation is committed to the successful implementation of the new PMS and other reform initiatives toward having a world-class Civil Service poised at delivering efficient and effective service.
In their Goodwill Message,, the Chairman, Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC), Dr. Tukur Bello Ingawa and the National Coordinator, SERVICOM, Mrs Nnena Akajimeli, represented, commended the efforts of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation and her team for bringing the long-awaited PMS to fruition.
As beneficiaries of the process, they pledged to join hands with the OHCSF for its operationality and sustainability.
The Director and Team Lead, Performance Management, Mrs. Bosede Olaniyi gave a detailed overview of PMS.
The workshop provided avenues for contributions, comments, as well as questions from stakeholders to deepen their understanding on the newly introduced management tool.
Present at the event were numerous Federal Permanent Secretaries, Federal Civil Service Commission’ Commissioners, Directors from MDAs and CEOs of government agencies.
