Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo state has emphasised the need for civil servants to discharge their duties with positive mentality, pointing out that the ongoing verification of the workforce was not to witch-hunt but enhance quality.
Ajimobi stated this at a capacity development seminar for senior government officials in the state civil service, held at state Secretariat, Ibadan, on Tuesday.
Describing the civil service as central in effecting good governance, Ajimobi noted that the imperativeness of regular evaluation and overhaul for efficient service delivery, at all times.
“The civil service as the engine room drives public service delivery. Hence, there is the need to regularly evaluate, calibrate, and overhaul to put the engine in optimum state for effective performance.”
“We are also doing verification of certificates which is for quality control. Some tendered certificates that are not genuine. We are not afraid to get rid of such persons.” “And, we are doing manpower audit so as to match the person with the job and vice versa.”
“We are doing this verification to ascertain the workforce, eliminate ghost workers and others. We are doing restructuring to enhance the quality of our people in the engine room so that the vehicle can perform effectively,” he said.
He further charged workers to put their heart to their work and especially update their skills through trainings.
On his administration’s commitment to staff trainings, Ajimobi said the state government, between 2011 and 2014, had sent more than 16,000 civil servants on trainings.
“In the course of the last six years, this administration has observed that there is a considerably huge gap between the expected capacity of our human capital and what is actually on ground.”
“Some of us will come in with good qualification but how often do we service that basic qualification that brought us in? How often do we learn the modern trends? After a while, if you don’t learn, update yourself you rust away.”
“This administration values human capital development, capacity building. Between 2011 and 2014, more than 16,000 civil servants, including teaching staff, benefited from various training programmes both locally and internationally. Our lack of adequate fund like before is what is hindering us in doing more,” Ajimobi.
Earlier, state Head of Service, Mr Soji Eniade said the training was to address poor attitude and low ethical value in the civil service.
This, Eniade said, tilted towards engendering a civil and public service that provided quality service delivery, at all times.