By Femi Ogun
……As Sanwo-Olu charges members to conduct a review of the Scheme of Service in line with evolving realities.
…. Muri-Okunola charges delegates to realign and update relevant aspects of Scheme of Service
As the 42nd Council Meeting on the National Council on Establishment (NCE) commenced in Ikeja, Lagos State on Monday, 30th November, members have been urged to conduct a review of the Scheme of Service in line with evolving realities.
This was disclosed by the Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, while declaring open the conference on Monday.
“Let me use this opportunity to remind all the delegates to use the occasion of this conference to conduct a review of the Scheme of Service in line with evolving realities, because the outcomes of their deliberations traditionally provides the critical roadmap for decisions and conclusions at the forthcoming Officials and Ministerial Sessions of the Council.
I also wish to strongly urge you to take full advantage of the opportunity provided by this convergence to engender focused interrogation of burning issues confronting Schemes and Conditions of Service nationwide”, Sanwo-Olu said.
Also in his address, the Permanent Secretary, SPSO, OHCSF, Dr. Emmanuel Meribole, thanked the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the people of Lagos State for the show of hospitality and readiness at all time to welcome this kind of meeting anytime they are called upon.
Dr. Meribole reminded the audience on the importance of meeting with the delegates first which was to prepare for the larger meeting of NCE comprising of both the officials (Head of Service of different States, Permanent Secretaries on Establishment matters of different States) and Delegates (the Directors on Establishment matters of different State) respectively. He encouraged the participants to ensure that this meeting National Council on Establishment is sustained due to its core importance to the service.
He revealed that the occasion was his first outing as Permanent Secretary, Service Policies and Strategies Office, Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, participating in the National Council of Establishment, therefore urged all delegates to participate actively in the discussion during sessions so that they would make far reaching recommendations to the Council
Also in his address, the Head of Service of Lagos State, Mr Hakeem Muri-Okunola, who earlier received the participants in his Office before the commencement of the meeting reminded the delegates that the meeting provides an excellent opportunity for the Council to realign and update relevant aspects of the Scheme of Sevice
in line with emerging realities in both academia and actual workplace.
“This meeting therefore clearly provides an excellent opportunity for the Council on Establishments (NCE) to re-align and update relevant aspects of the Schemes of Service in line with emerging realities in both academia and in the actual workplace. In this undertaking, it is your individual and collective insights and robust inputs that would drive the process of improving service delivery in all the Civil/ Public Services in the Federation”, Okunola stated.
He maintained that the world is more dynamic today than ever before and change is the only constant thing.
“The pace of change is unbelievably fast and it is inevitable that the future of work itself would be significantly determined by emerging technologies. What has become clear is that yesterday’s skills have proved inadequate in addressing today’s issues and there is n0o gainsaying that today’s knowledge and skills may not be sufficient in confronting tomorrow’s challenges. As such, it is imperative that we all recognize the critical importance of updating our rules and guidelines in tandem with emerging knowledge, skills and competences”, Muri-Okunola said.
In his opening address, the Permanent Secretary, Office of Establishments and Training, Mr Abiodun Bamgboye, on behalf of the delegates applauds the Lagos State Head of Service, Muri-Okunola, who also doubles as the host for his magnanimity and effort in securing executive approval for the conference.
“I consider it imperative to specially acknowledge and welcome to our midst, the Chief Host, Mr. Hakeem Muri-Okunola, Head of Service of Lagos State, who, not only secured executive approval for this hosting but also ensured we left no stone unturned in our preparations for the 5-day Meeting. Our HOS, HMO, has the ‘midas touch’ and the Lagos State Public Service is better for it”, Bamgboye said.
Secretary, SPSO, OHCSF, Dr. Emmanuel Meribole, thanked the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the people of Lagos State for the show of hospitality and readiness at all time to welcome this kind of meeting anytime they are called upon.
Dr. Meribole reminded the audience on the importance of meeting with the delegates first which was to prepare for the larger meeting of NCE comprising of both the officials (Head of Service of different States, Permanent Secretaries on Establishment matters of different States) and Delegates (the Directors on Establishment matters of different State) respectively.
He encouraged the participants to ensure that this meeting National Council on Establishment is sustained due to its core importance to the service.
The Permanent Secretary also reiterated that Civil Service of Nigeria needs restoration. He said that the service is facing lots of challenges in the recent times. He maintained that the top echelon in the service needs to provide the right leadership and direction to the subordinates in order to raise the bar of performance and productivity for more effective and efficient service delivery.
He intimated delegates that the Extant Public Service Rules are being currently reviewed and updated. He also revealed that the Scheme of Service is at the final stage of completion.
Femi Ogun is Head, Public Affairs, Office of the Head of Service, Lagos State.
