By Oyintokoni Joel, Yenagoa
Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has stressed the importance of a strong and professional civil service to effective governance, saying permanent secretaries must serve as a critical bridge between political leaders and the bureaucracy.
Governor Diri, represented by his deputy, Dr Peter Akpe, stated this on Monday while declaring open a three-day executive training programme for permanent secretaries in Yenagoa.
The training, organised by the Bayelsa State Government in collaboration with the Nigeria Institute of Management (Chartered), has the theme, “Strategic Leadership and Public-Sector Governance for Effective Service Delivery.”
The Governor said his administration holds the civil service and bureaucracy in high esteem, maintaining that the “bureaucracy is expected to promote order, efficiency, fairness, accountability, proper record-keeping and institutional continuity.”
While urging permanent secretaries to provide professional advice to political leaders and work closely with directors and other professionals within their ministries, Governor Diri stressed the need for continuous learning.
Making reference to the managerial principles of the German political economist, Max Weber, the Bayelsa Chief Executive warned that public servants who failed to update their knowledge could become disconnected from current realities.
He equally urged the permanent secretaries to also recognise the contributions of directors and other officials in their ministries, saying effective administration could not be left to commissioners and permanent secretaries alone.
His words: “Until you have a strong bureaucracy, you can’t run a good government. We should ensure that we are intentional and conscious of that particular role. You are a bridge.
“There are people that are permanent secretaries today. They joined service maybe about 30 years ago, and they are still working with the old knowledge, you can’t fit in now. So, you really have to update through learning.
“Most of the times, you see that activities and decisions in some ministry are between the commissioner and the permanent secretary, or sometimes they add the DFA. You don’t assume you know it all. You must carry your directors and other officers along.”
In his welcome address, the Head of Service, Dr. Ebiye Wisdom Sawyer, said the training was coming at a time when citizens expected government institutions to be more responsive, transparent and efficient.
Dr Sawyer noted that permanent secretaries occupy a strategic position in the machinery of government, with responsibility for policy implementation, strengthening institutional systems and promoting professionalism in the public service.
He also urged the participants to embrace digital transformation and improve administrative processes, data management and access to government services.
According to Dr Sawyer, “Citizens expect government institutions to be responsive, transparent, efficient and capable of delivering quality services that positively affect their lives.”
“Strategic leadership requires more than the ability to manage routine administrative responsibilities. It demands vision, sound judgement, innovation, effective communication, accountability and the capacity to inspire officers towards achieving clearly defined institutional goals.”
In his goodwill message, the Chairman of the Bayelsa State Civil Service Commission, Hon. Perekiye Buruboyefe, urged the participants to open their minds and hearts to the knowledge to be offered during the programme, wishing them a successful training.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Nigeria Institute of Management (Chartered), Dr. Sani Abubakar, expressed the institute’s commitment to ensuring that the training achieved its objectives, assuring the state government and participants of the institute’s support.
On his part, the Bayelsa State Director, Code of Conduct Bureau, Mr Jonathan Asigo, said the training would help permanent secretaries understand the guiding principles governing the conduct of public officers and enable them to discharge their responsibilities effectively.
In his vote of thanks, the Chairman of the Permanent Secretaries Forum, Dr Agadah Zuoboemi, noted that training the leadership of the civil service would have a wider impact on other workers, expressing hope that the trainees would apply the knowledge acquired to improve service delivery across their various ministries.
Present at the event were the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Nimibofa Ayawei, Commissioner for Information, Orientation and Strategy, Hon. (Mrs.) Ebiuwou Koku-Obiyai; Commissioner for Public Utilities, Engr. Karin Kumoko; Deputy Chief of Staff, Deputy Governor’s Office, Comrade Gowon Toruyouyei; and commissioners from the state civil service commission, among others.
