By Violet Osatohanmwen Obamwonyi
In its continued effort to promote professionalism within the Edo State Public Sector, the State Government through the John Odigie Oyegun Public Service Academy (JOOPSA) has trained over 150 administrative officers as human resource managers (HRM), spanning Grade Levels 08 to 12.
The training which aimed at familiarising participants with the operational regulations and best practices for effectively managing human and material resources in the Public Service, focused on improving service delivery and institutional development within the Service.
The three-day training, held from the 21st to 23rd May, 2025, featured a key lecture titled “Communication in the Service: Writing for Effective Service Delivery” by the Director General of JOOPSA, Mrs. Gina Otamere. In her presentation, she emphasised the critical role of administrative officers, urging them to exercise caution and professionalism in the discharge of their duties, considering their direct impact on human lives.
Mrs. Otamere advised participants to be attentive to non-verbal cues during official interactions, stressing the importance of cultural sensitivity, tone, and thoughtful communication. She introduced participants to the various official channels and hierarchies of communication within the Service, and underscored the necessity of applying the seven ‘Cs’ of communication especially when drafting memos and minutes.
According to Otamere, “As administrative officers, your communication must be accurate, clear, and purposeful. We do not write for aesthetics; there is no need for elevated vocabulary whose meanings are ambiguous. Write effectively so your audience can understand what you mean and create a record for posterity because where there is no communication, there is no service.”
She urged the officers to avoid abrasive language despite familiarity with colleagues; to practice active listening and to offer constructive feedbacks framed with empathy. She advised, “Start with praise, deliver your correction tactfully, and end on a positive note. Miscommunication or addressing correspondence to the wrong authority can constitute a breach of official protocol.”
In the session on “Human Resource Processes, Procedures, and Practices,” a former Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Secretary to the State Government, Mrs. Deborah Enakhimion Esq., encouraged participants to humanise administration. She emphasised that the era of rigid bureaucracy was over; advocating instead for proactive engagement and periodic personnel audits.
Training participants on drafting standard establishment proposals, Mrs. Enakhimion stressed the importance of administrative officers as educators within their organisations, ensuring that all employees are informed of their rights and responsibilities.
In her words, “As the police of the system and watchdogs of the Service, be approachable and proactive. Excellence in administration means solving problems before they arise and acting within the framework of established rules. It is your duty to educate other staff members of your ministries departments and agencies (MDAs) of the rules of operations and engagements and you can do this by leading with example. Pay proper attention to your work. An error on your part can have serious implications on someone’s career.”
Mrs. Enakhimion encouraged periodic personnel budgeting to prevent over or under-establishment of positions and advocated for inclusive decision making guided by the Civil Service Rules and the Public Service Regulations. “It is our expectation that following this training, administrative officers will return to their various MDAs equipped to deliver improved and more efficient services to the people of Edo State,” she concluded.
Participants expressed appreciation for the training. Faith Ebehiremen Aburime from the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning described the experience as enlightening, saying, so far, I have learnt a lot of what is expected of me as an admin officer; the rules and regulations governing our job and the significance of adhering to them as they do form the foundation of the Service.”
Julius Emiasegen from the Edo City Transport Service Limited noted, “Since yesterday, the sessions have been very insightful and revealing. We have learnt quite a lot that will enhance our job performance. We are committed to cascading this knowledge to colleagues who could not attend.”
Similarly, Patrick Ikpato from the Edo State Digital Governance and Data Management Agency reflected, “This training has been transformative. Questions I had, have been clarified. I have been exposed to a lot of things. Now I do greatly appreciate the importance of continuous learning and the pursuit of knowledge for effective service delivery.”
