Lagos State Governor, Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu has stressed the need for a technology-driven Public Service nationwide to spur innovation and rapid development across Nigeria.
Speaking on Thursday through his deputy, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, at the opening of the 42nd Meeting of the National Council on Establishment in Ikeja, the Governor emphasised that “in the 21st Century where technology and innovation are the main drivers of development, our public service must not live in the past; it must reflect the new age and strive to be competitive as a foremost public service in the sub-region and Africa”.
While stressing that the Public Service, no doubt occupies a strategic position in governance as a result of the responsibilities entrusted in its care, Sanwo-Olu noted that no government can succeed in actualising its vision and plans for the people without an effective, efficient and innovative public service charged with the responsibility of implementing government policies and programmes.
He disclosed that Lagos State accords conditions of service and staff welfare a pride of place and is committed to ensuring that its serving and retired public servants are deservedly compensated and appreciated for their meritorious service.
Sanwo-Olu reiterated the State government’s conviction to bequeath a Greater Lagos to present and future generations.
Earlier in her address, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan, stated that in line with its role as the engine room for national development, a modern Nigeria Civil Service must remain strategically positioned to develop and drive reforms that would have a transformational impact on all sectors of the nation’s economy.
She emphasised that as service providers, civil servants must brace up to meeting the challenges of service delivery and other dividends of democracy for the rising population of the country.
Dr. Yemi-Esan added that arising from this challenge, the Federal Government is putting in place, a number of mechanisms to drive its flagship digitalisation project.
“This includes the implementation of a service-wide Enterprise Content Management Solution (ECMS), which is aimed at digitising records and automating workflow to achieve an overall improvement in information sharing and collaboration across the Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government”, she stated.
In addition, Dr. Yemi-Esan disclosed that her Office is currently finalising the development of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all processes ahead of the service-wide roll out for the Enterprise Content Management Solution (ECMS).
In his remarks, Lagos State Head of Service, Mr. Hakeem Muri-Okunola noted that the meeting would avail the Council the opportunity to midwife the required improvement in Civil Service delivery.
He said, “It is clearly evident that yesterday’s skills have proved inadequate in addressing today’s issues. There is, therefore, no gainsaying that today’s knowledge and skills may not be sufficient in confronting tomorrow’s challenges”.
Muri-Okunola also noted that the world is more dynamic than ever before, the pace of change is unbelievably fast and it is manifestly clear that work would be significantly determined by emerging technologies.
The HoS averred that the meeting presented a unique opportunity to interrogate and review the structure, processes and procedures in a way that will allow the Council to engineer a more responsive Public Service Structure in which all Public Officers are imbued with the core values of discipline, ethics and the highest standards of professionalism.
