Civil Service Reform initiatives is geared towards effective public service delivery – Bukar Aji

The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Bukar Goni Aji has said that the reform initiatives in the Federal Civil Service is geared towards repositioning the service for effective delivery and enhancement of the implementation of government policies and programmes.

Bukar Goni Aji stated this during an interactive session between the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation and federal civil servants in Nassarawa State held on November 19, 2013 at the Ta’al Hotel in Lafia, Nasarawa State.

In his address presented by the Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment – Dauda Kigbu, the Head of Service iterated that the quality of a nation’s most valued asset – its human resource is central to the development of the nation. This, he added is because of the critical role it is expected to play in the initiation, formulation and translation of Government policies into tangible results for the achievement of national outcomes for its citizens.

‘It is in recognition of this and particularly your pivotal role in translating the President’s Transformation Agenda into reality that the Head of the Civil Service directed all Federal Permanent Secretaries to interact with all state-based Federal Civil Servants to acquaint them with the current changes taking place in the Federal Civil Service,’ he emphasized.

According to him, the Office of the Head of the Civil Service which was hitherto made up of six offices with Permanent Secretaries and twenty-four departments have been trimmed down to three offices and twelve departments. He further noted that the reform would not lead to loss of job, but personnel would be placed properly and fit into areas where their skills and experience could be better utilised. He urged them to conduct their affairs in a most dignified manner capable of true representation of the service as disciplined, hard-working, loyal and industrious.

In his presentation titled : “Reforming the Federal Civil Service to Deliver on the Transformation Agenda,” Dauda Kigbu disclosed that the reform was to bring competent, professional, development-oriented, public-spirited and customer-friendly civil service that is capable of responding effectively and speedily to the needs of the society.

He spoke on the need to restore the core values of the service such as political neutrality, impartiality, integrity, loyalty, transparency, professionalism and accountability, creating a suitable environment where civil servants are assured of protection and job security as well as faithful discharge of their duties and responsibilities.