By Nosakhare Agbonigiarhuoyi
The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has charged the senior management of Edo’s Civil/Public Service to embrace transparency and reciprocate the government’s investments in them by improving service delivery.
He made this remark on Thursday, February 9, 2023, during an engagement session with Grade Level 12 to 17 officers of the Civil Service, at the Government House, Benin City.
The Governor reiterated that the civil/public service’s role is key to any government’s functionality, pledging his continuous commitment to improving the conditions of work for public and civil servants in Edo State.
Mr. Obaseki expressed his dissatisfaction over unethical activities and behaviours in the service in spite of his administration’s investment of taxpayers’ monies and commitment to the welfare of civil/public servants.
“We have a crisis on our hands. The level of waste and corruption in our public service must be reduced.
“We must agree to be fair to the government and the people who are your employers”, the Governor warned.
The Edo State Head of Service, Anthony Okungbowa Esq., commended the investments of the Obaseki administration in the civil/public service in the last 6 years, and charged the civil/public servants to reciprocate the kind gesture by giving their best in terms of service delivery.
Mr. Okungbowa remarked that the aim of the engagement session was to deepen the gains that the administration has made in ensuring the transformation and enhancement of the public service.
Recounting the milestones recorded by the administration in the civil/public service, the Head of Service said: “We have a simplified and very effective work process. We have developed a calendar for training, unlike how we used to do it where training was haphazard.
“Now training has been fashioned out in such a way that they now impact positively on the growth and development of the Service.” the HoS said.
The session also featured representatives from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), who gave talks on Ethics, Standards, and Physical Accountability.
The high point of the engagement was the presentation of the re-tweaked Edo State Civil/Public Ethical handbook by the Governor, and the declaration of compliance by all civil and public servants present.
