Politics
GOV. Siminalayi Fubara of River, has called for sustained investment in public service reforms, strategic capacity development and digital transformation to build an efficient and responsive public service in Nigeria.
Fubara made the remark while declaring open the 48th Meeting of the National Council on Establishments in Port Harcourt, on Thursday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting was attended by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation and the Heads of Service of the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The governor said that government at all levels must continually rethink and reposition public institutions to meet the demands of the 21st century.
According to him, rapid technological advancement, changing workforce dynamics, increasing citizens’ expectations and emerging global realities require a public service that is agile, digitally enabled, accountable and driven by excellence.
Fubara said public institutions should not merely adapt to change but anticipate and lead it through policies that rewarded competence, innovation, integrity and outstanding performance.
He described the public service as the engine room of government through which policies were translated into programmes, development priorities implemented and essential services delivered to citizens.
According to him, no government can achieve sustainable development without a competent, motivated and efficient public service.
“As custodians of public service administration, your decisions on establishment matters, human resource management, career progression and conditions of service have far-reaching implications for national development and quality governance,” he said.
The governor urged members of the council to ensure that their deliberations produced practical and implementable recommendations that would strengthen institutional capacity, promote transparency, deepen professionalism and improve productivity in the public service.
Fubara said his administration had continued to prioritise the welfare, productivity and professional development of civil servants because no development agenda could succeed without a motivated workforce.
He said the state government had implemented a minimum wage above the nationally approved threshold while sustaining prompt payment of salaries, pensions, gratuities and Christmas bonuses.
The governor added that regular promotions had also been restored, while work was at an advanced stage on the renovation and modernisation of the state secretariat complex to provide a safe, technology-driven and conducive work environment.
Fubara commended the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Didi Walson-Jack, for her leadership and reforms aimed at repositioning the Federal Civil Service through professionalism, innovation and institutional excellence.
He expressed optimism that the outcome of the council’s meeting would strengthen public service administration, improve career management systems and contribute to more effective governance across the country. (NAN)
F.O
Tags: FUBARA Public Service reforms Sustained investment