In a bid to reform and reposition the state’s civil service for improved service delivery and also enhance quality of governance, representatives of both Abia and Gombe States’ government respectively have paid a visit to the office of the Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR). The two delegations were received by the Director-General of the Bureau, Mr. Dasuki Ibrahim Arabi, alongside his top management staff, at the Federal Secretariat in Abuja. At the meeting, Alhaji Bappayo Yahaya, the Gombe state’s Head of Service (HoS), said their visit was deliberately informed by the need to officially avail the Bureau of the status of the state’s civil service. Among other things, Alh. Yahaya, added that their courtesy call is aimed at exploring and agreeing on modalities for cooperation with the Bureau with a view to achieving their objectives of reforming their civil service for optimal and efficient service delivery. “Gombe State’s civil service has a capacity of about 21,000 work force, spread across 17 Ministries, and 50 Departments, and Agencies (MDAs). About 80% of the MDAs have their offices inside rented accommodation. We have a monthly wage bill of 1.2 billion. Poor funding, lack of equipment and office material, poor record and lack of reliable statistics, together with huge gratuity overhang are some of the challenges our civil service is facing. The other challenges include weak leadership, indolence, indiscipline, lack of skills and poor motivation, among others,” he said.
On his part, Mr. Onyii Wama, the Abia HoS, disclosed that though the state’s civil service is facing several challenges, the partnership with BPSR will help in designing and unveiling reform policies, agenda and programmes with potential to restore the glory of Abia civil service. He explained that while several policy actions have been introduced and implemented, critical reforms are ‘desperately’ needed to enhance the quality of service delivery, especially in the area of open governance and provision e-service to teeming residents by government’s institutions in the state. They both pledged the readiness of their respective Governors to ensuring that reform policies midwife by BPSR for the development and growth of their state’s civil service are religiously studied, coordinated and well-monitored, while also assuring of their full implementation by various MDAs. Responding, Mr. Dasuki Ibrahim Arabi, promised to facilitate the building of the two states’ public service into a highly functional, professional, customer-focused and results-oriented institutions, saying BPSR will also initiate, coordinate, monitor and ensure full implementation of government reform policies and programmes in the two states. Other members of the Abia delegation include Mr. Chukwuma Agu, Economic Adviser to Governor Ikpeazu; Mr. Amaechi Chukwu, Special Adviser to the Governor on Policy/OGP and SFTAs Focal Person; and Mr. Eze Ajuzie, Permanent Secretary, Bureau of Common Services, Office of the state’s HoS. The Gombe HoS’ entourage include, Dr Ibrahim Daudu, Chairman Gombe Reform Committee; Haj. Rabi S. Jimeta, Mall. Muhammad Hashimu, and Alh. Yusuf Kaltungo, all retired Permanent Secretaries in the state’s civil service.
The Country Representative of DFID-PEAL, Dr. Umaru Abu, was also at the partnership-seeking meeting.
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