By Stella Omona
The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HoCSF), Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan, has urged Civil Services in the States to embrace the already developed Strategy and Implementation Plans of the Federal Government, which are already in use by the Federal Civil Service, to ensure uniformity and quality service to the country for an enhanced wholistic growth and development.
She made the call at the Opening Ceremony of the 2nd Session (Ministerial) of the 44th Meeting of the National Council on Establishments (NCE) in Yola, Adamawa State on Thursday.
In her Keynote Address, the HoCSF, as well as the Chairman of the Ministerial Session of the NCE, highlighted some of the activities of her Office leveraging on the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan 2021 – 2025 (FCSSIP25), which was duly approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC).
She equally intimated the delegates on institutionalisation of Performance Management System (PMS) at the Federal level, which was backed by Executive Order 001 to improve on quality service delivery to the citizenry.
According to Yemi-Esan, the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) and the Federal Ministry of Health will commence assessment of staff’s performances with PMS instead of the old APER that is being phased out.
She explained that this will guarantee transparency, accountability and, most especially meritocracy.
She commended the Governor of Adamawa State, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri and the Head of Service of the State, Dr. Edgar Sunday for ensuring that merit is enthroned for better governance.
As the nation is about undergo a political transition, she urged civil servants to up their games toward enshrining trust and accountability in the discharge of their duties, without losing sight of their vital role of providing good leadership.
On Enterprise Content Management (ECM), Yemi-Esan, disclosed that the OHCSF has presently gone digital partially, and is expected to go live by the first quarter of next year.
According to her, at the moment, the Office is awaiting the final stage of ISO 9001 2015 audit, prior to the certification of its operations and services, in accordance with international Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs).
On Staff Welfare, the HoCSF alluded that lots of progress have been recorded, especially on recognition and award policy, which was instituted to motivate hard working civil servants, as well as spur others through its Public-Private Partnerships. According to her, this was evidential at the 2022 Civil Service Day celebration, where the forty (40) recipients of the Presidential Public Service Merit Award received cash donations of N500,000 each from the Aig- Imuokhuede Foundation.
She said another group of private partners presented a star prize, a brand new mini-SUV, which was won, through the ballots, by a grade level 13 Officer with the Ministry of Police Affairs.
She also spoke on innovation, HR Module of the Integrated Personal Payroll Information System (IPPIS), Culture Change initiatives, and enjoined State Governments to leverage on Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) to fast track development, as well as keep pace with global trends.
Earlier in his address, Governor Umaru Fintiri, represented by his deputy, Chief Crowther Seth, assured of maximum security throughout the meeting.
He acknowledged that the government cannot deliver on its mandates without an efficient and effective Civil Service, hence, he does not compromise on their welfare.
The Ministerial Session of the 44th NCE was declared open by the Governor Umaru Fintiri.
