…assures more civil service reforms underway
Benue State Governor, Rev Fr (Dr) Hyacinth Alia, has warned civil servants to desist from playing truancy, but rather be diligent in their duties for effective service delivery to the state.
Governor Alia gave the warning during a meeting with Heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies and Units of the state’s Civil Service, which held at the Secretariat Complex in Makurdi, a statement by the Principal Special Assistant to the Governor on Media &Publicity/Strategic Communications, Bridget T Ikyado, said.
According to him, the various Heads of Departments are to ensure staff adhere to diligence, hard work accountability, transparency, confidentiality, discipline and team work.
“Accountability has to be built in your heart, the confidentiality we used to have in the service needs to be returned; as we take charge of our life style, so should the job be,” he added.
He also urged the Head of Departments to ensure they lead by example, “if you show at work late, close when you want or you are absent, how do you want your subordinates to act differently”,he queried.
The Governor further called for drastic change in attitude towards work for best results to be achieved.
He further said, “I am here to serve you and the state; you have accepted the job to also serve the state in various capacities, I call for a uniform style of work to justify the prompt payment of salaries.
“We need to revive, revamp and reform the civil service and we have to change the narratives.
“We must recalibrate to avoid embarrassing scenes and situations. This administration will not tolerate laziness and truancy.”
Gov Alia emphasised on the need for every civil servant to dress properly to work as it shows how one values the job.
“Let us bring back aura, respect and value again in to the civil service”, he said.
The governor said some reforms to be established in the civil service include: the automating of the entire civil service, which would register one’s presence or absence, adding that staff productivity would be enhanced this way.
He also said the reforms would ensure people due for promotions were promoted as at when due.
He also warned that overheads were not to be personalised but used to solve internal needs of the office.
The Governor also announced that retirees would have a maximum of 120 days to get their entitlements.
The Benue Governir further urged heads of departments to have weekly meetings with their staff to know their strength and their weaknesses, and how it should be improved on.
Alia added that affordable homes would be made available, just as the State Micro Finance Bank was revived to encourage small businesses for workers, especially for agricultural purposes and huticultre
“I encourage you all to have farms, but farming around office premises must stop by November,” he said.
He called for the rehabilitation and furnishing of the state’s civil service secretariat by the Ministry of Works as he said facilities, especially restoration of light, water and other amenties were gradually fixed.
The Governor however thanked all Heads of Departments for working and attaining the position they were, saying “more is expected of you”.
In his reaction, Barr Sam Ode, the Deputy Governor of the State, stressed the need for training and retraining of staff for optimal service delivery would commence soon.
“Gone are the days when civil service was grounded, office locked up, non pyament of salaries, work days were reduced to two days as the workers had three days for farming,” he said.
Earlier, the Head of the State Civil Service, Mr. Moses Ogbogbo Ode, thanked the Governor and his Executive members for finding time to have a first hand meeting with the staff.
He pledged the civil service support to the growth and enhancement of the state.
