Nigeria needs strict policies to amend civil service, says Yemi-Esan – Nexus News
Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Dr. Folashade Yemi-Esan has explained that Nigeria needs strict economic policies for strategic implementation of amendments to achieve a well-functioning civil and public service.
Stating that the country is faced with a sharp fall in oil prices, she noted that the policies must be suitable enough to control the country’s strong macroeconomic growth.
In a paper submitted during the 46th yearly conference of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria (ICSAN), titled ‘Public Administration: Entrenching Sound Governance Principles for Macroeconomic Growth,’ Yemi-Esan, confirmed that the recent progressive fall in oil prices had led to devastating impact on the economy and public finances.
According to her, the economy would grow better through sustainable development policies being deployed by the government, backed by a motivated and efficient public service.
Represented by Assistant Director, Staff Training and Welfare, Yusuf Babatunde, she highlighted strategic actions in the implementation of the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan 2021-2025 (FCSSIP25), saying that the amendments are attempts to rebuild administrative structure, revamps operational machinery and techniques, geared towards enhancing service effectiveness and efficiency.
She stated that the FCSSIP25, which is aligned to the National Development Plan 2021-2025, is aimed at evolving a crop of skilled, motivated, disciplined, innovative and performance/merit-oriented civil servants.
The FCSSIP25, she said is aligned to the mandate of the office of President Muhammadu Buhari and has six pillars, which are: capability building and talent management; performance management system; Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) – human resource; innovation; digitalization of content services and staff welfare–enhancing the value proposition for civil servants.
The decision, according to her, is expected to change the negative vision of the Nigerian civil service and lead to effective driving socio-economic development.
Also, Prof. Sylvester Akhaine of the Department of political science, Lagos State University (LASU), who spoke on ‘Beyond Governance: The Role of Dedicated Followership in Participatory Democracy, stated that the followers are most time falsely blamed for the downfall of the country.
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Noting that they are not to be accused, he said their docility and lethargy to reclaim their destiny in dramatic ways was a function of their repression by the ruling elite.
“But the unity of the subjective and objective factors will lead to the restoration of popular power and fulfillment of the social needs of society under a democracy that is truly participatory.
“You cannot go beyond governance to address followership without reference to the former. Indeed, the content of the literature on followership encompasses the debate about governance and leadership,” he said.
According to him, governance supports what is now called the new management that involves the deployment of the panoply of tools that goes above direct provisions of service to contracting, franchising and deploying new forms of regulation aimed at achieving greater efficiency in the production of public services.
