Ambode Unveils Human Development Programme for Public Servants

By Gboyega Akinsanmi

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode has unveiled a strategic human capital development programme, which he said, would help produce the kind of public servants necessary for effective service delivery.

The governor said the state government had started a comprehensive review of the old staff training policy with a view to developing a more robust human development programme “to build individual and institutional capacities.”

He disclosed this at a session in honour of 30 permanent secretaries that retired from the state public service recently while imploring the serving public servants “to learn from the lives of these distinguished technocrats.”
The session was attended by the Deputy Governor, Dr. Oluranti Adebule, the state Head of Service, Mrs. Folashade Jaji and Chairman of Lagos State Civil Service Commission, Dr. Olujobi Ososanya among others.

Ambode, who was represented by his deputy, said the state government “has its ways of rewarding its workforce and what we are witnessing is a testimony of the reward for their diligence, commitment, perseverance and honesty to the state public service.”
He therefore urged the serving public servants “to be more dedicated, honest and diligent in whatever assignment we are given because it has rewards. As an administration, we will continue to encourage and reward diligence and resourcefulness amongst you.”
The governor pointed out that it was no longer that only a well-coordinated and sustained strategic human capital development programme could produce the type of public servants that will be sufficiently equipped to deliver on their mandates.
“In this wise, we are reviewing the old staff training policy with a view to developing a more robust human capacity development programme to build individual and institutional capacities and empower civil servants and ministries, departments and agencies to deliver on individual and institutional mandates.”

He therefore said efforts “are being put into the capacity development programmes for public servants and the general welfare and wellbeing of public servants as an integral part of the goals of this administration.”
He assured the public servants that the state government “shall continue to strengthen the state public service structures and processes where necessary in order to enhance quality service delivery and ensure good governance to the good people of Lagos State.”
The governor explained the rationale behind the forum of retired Heads of Service and Permanent Secretaries in the state, which he inaugurated recently, noting that the forum was designed to a sector expert and policy think-tank.

He said the inauguration was informed by the present administration’s belief that the diverse experiences of members of the forum, all of whom had been in government in various capacities in the past and now highly respected members of their various communities would enrich government’s policy formulation.

He observed that the forum, the first in the country was “to partner the state government on the best ways and means of enhancing the quality of service delivery, improving public service structure and the quality of lives of the people and their environment for the benefit of all; residents and visitors alike.”