…calls for Loyalty to Government, Disciplined Service
The Edo State Head of Service, Dr. Anthony Okungbowa has commenced visitations across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in the State as part of activities to deepen the implementation of the Edo State Public Service Retooling and Enhancement Programme (Edo-PREP).
Speaking during his visit to the Ministry of Physical Planning, Housing, Urban and Regional Development, and the Edo State Development and Building Control Agency, Dr. Okungbowa explained that the exercise was aimed at acquainting officers with the Edo-PREP reform initiative, which is geared towards strengthening leadership-staff engagement and entrenching professionalism in the Service.
According to him, “The visits are deliberate engagements designed to ensure that Government Policies are not only understood but properly executed at every level. They also help leadership feel the pulse of the workforce and provide a platform for open dialogue. As Civil and Public Servants, you are the face of Government. You are the channel through which the Government delivers good governance to the people. When citizens interact with you, they see the Government”.
Dr. Okungbowa revealed that Edo-PREP is an autochthonous reform framework broken into thirty five (35) modules, each led by a Permanent Secretary or Head of Agency, to ensure full ownership and effective implementation. He added that the establishment of a Bureau of Reforms, the first of its kind in any State Civil Service, will institutionalize and sustain reform efforts beyond the current administration.
“In the past, reforms often ended when a particular administration concluded its tenure because there was no structure to carry them forward. That is why we are setting up a Bureau of Public Service Reforms to ensure continuity and to harness the ideas of everyone in the system. Reform is not a one-off process, it must be continuous. The world is changing rapidly, particularly in the technological space and we must evolve with it so that the Service does not become obsolete”. Dr. Okungbowa said.
The Head of Service further disclosed plans for the establishment of a State-Local Government Joint Service Council to bridge gaps between the two tiers of Government in ensuring coordinated development, saying, “This structure will help maintain uniform growth, strengthen collaboration and prevent disconnection in our collective reform efforts”.
Dr. Okungbowa highlighted the inclusion of a mentorship framework and a wellness and fitness module within the Edo-PREP, saying, “If we must grow as a Service, we must recognize that success without a successor is failure. Mentorship is therefore not optional, it is critical and the new system will provide for a mandatory structured mentorship that will be continuous and not a one-off exercise. Good service delivery can only come from a healthy workforce. Wellness is not only physical, it also includes emotional and psychological wellbeing. We are prioritizing emotional intelligence and mental health, and we may engage psychologists to support officers who need to speak about their challenges. A happy, healthy officer is a productive officer”.
The Head of Service announced the introduction of a Service-wide innovation competition, calling on Civil and Public Servants to come up with creative, problem-solving ideas capable of enhancing productivity, improving efficiency and deepening citizens’ satisfaction. He explained that the initiative being one of the pillars of Edo-PREP, is designed to entrench innovation as a culture within the Service and reward officers who develop impactful solutions to administrative and operational challenges.
Dr. Okungbowa added that proceeds from his recently published book will serve as seed funding for the proposed Digital Public Service Library, which will serve as a knowledge hub and learning platform for Civil and Public servants across the Service. In his words, “We want to create an environment where innovation is not only encouraged but also celebrated. Officers who conceive ideas that improve service delivery or promote cost-saving, transparency and efficiency will no longer go unnoticed”.
On workers’ welfare, the Head of Service stated, “His Excellency, Governor Monday Okpebholo, has continued to demonstrate that the welfare of workers is at the heart of his administration. From prompt payment of salaries to the 13th-month bonus and the various reforms we are currently implementing, it is clear that he understands that a motivated workforce is the key to efficient service delivery. We may not be where we want to be, but we have made significant progress in a short time, and this gives us confidence that better days are ahead”.
During the interactive session, Dr. Okungbowa admonished officers to embrace loyalty as a core value in the Public Service, stressing that many Civil Servants have misunderstood its true meaning. He cautioned that any comment or action that undermines or denigrates the Government would not be ignored, noting that true Civil servants are duty-bound to defend the Government they serve. He frowned at the increasing trend of Public Servants using the media to express grievances instead of utilizing the internal service channels provided for such purposes, emphasizing that a defining quality of the Civil Service is the ability to transition loyalty completely and unreservedly to any new Government.
According to him, “A Civil Servant must be loyal to the Government of the day, and that loyalty must be one hundred percent. If you can only give 99.9%, you have no reason to remain in the Public Service, because a Government you are not loyal to, you cannot serve. When issues arise and you cannot defend the Government of the day, you are not fit to be a Civil Servant. Some officers still show loyalty to past administrations.
“A Civil Servant must serve the new administration with as much passion and dedication as he or she served the previous one, or even more. I appeal to you, in your comments, in the thoughts of your heart and in the steps of your feet, let everything you do reflect the Government you serve. As Civil Servants, we are ambassadors of Government, and I will not hesitate to invoke the rules to the letter where necessary”.
Dr. Okungbowa appreciated the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress (TUC), and the Joint Public Service Negotiating Council (JNC), for partnering with the Office of the Head of Service on the visits. “Labour has been part of this journey from the beginning, and their commitment to ensuring the success of the Governor’s vision for the Civil and Public Service is truly commendable”. He concluded.
The Functioning Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Physical Planning, Housing, Urban and Regional Development, Arc. Kate Isokpunwu commended the Head of Service for his reformative thinking and leadership, describing the visit as a refreshing innovation that strengthens the bond between leadership and the workforce, promoting transparency and giving voice to the realities faced by MDAs. On behalf of the Ministry and its Agency, she assured of the Ministry’s commitment to the objectives of Edo-PREP in achieving the SHINE agenda of the Governor.
Arc. Isokpunwu said, “These principles perfectly align with our collective vision to make Edo a model of physical order and sustainable urban development in Nigeria”.
While delivering the vote of thanks, the Managing Director of the Edo State Development and Building Control Agency, Mr. Imoisili Darlington Igabali, appreciated the Head of Service for his visit and pledged continued collaboration in implementing the reforms.
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