The Federal Government says it has taken a number of cautious steps to ensure a mechanism to support and sustain innovation in the public service to boost the morale of civil servants.
The Head of Civil Service of the Federation (HOCSF), Dr Folasade Yemi-Esan, made this known when she declared a 3-day sensitisation workshop on “Innovation“ opened on Monday in Abuja.
Yemi-Esan was represented by Mrs Ibiene Roberts, Permanent Secretary for Special Duties, Office of the HOCSF.
The workshop is meant to sensitise the innovation staff of the office of the HOCSF and other ministries, Extra- Ministerial Departments and Agencies (MDAs), on the newly created Innovation Department/Divisions at the office of the HOCSF/MDAs.
“The workshop is fundamental to the successful administration of the newly created innovation department/divisions in the office of the HOCSF and other MDAs across the nation.
“Innovation is the subject matter that for long has gained global interest and the popularity as an effective tool for problem solving for improving businesses, cooperate governance and scaling up service quality and delivery.
“So it is not surprising that the trend has compelled bureaucracies around the world to recognise and embrace the use of innovation to provide customers’ focused cost-effective and up-to-date methods of improving public services,” she said.
Driven by the determination to bring about rapid transformation in the system, Yemi-Esan said the Federal Government through her office, had taken a number of cautious steps to put mechanism to support and sustain innovation in Nigerian public service.
“For instance, to kick start our journey to a public service driven by innovation, ideas and technology, the office of the HOCSF organised the maiden edition of the Federal Civil Service innovation challenge in June and August 2020.
“The competition is aimed at showcasing and rewarding ingenuity and excellence in service as well as boosting the morals of officers to enable them to aspire to a greater height,” she said.
Earlier in her remarks, Mrs Olusanya Otelemate, Director, Civil Service Inspectorate Department, Office of the HOCSF, explained that the workshop would create a platform for the participants, who are expected to drive the vision of the HOCSF.
According to Otelemate, promoting innovation among the civil servants in Nigeria is in line with the eight priority areas of the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan (FCSSIP), 2017 to 2020 plan.
“The FCSSIP idea is to ensure that operation in the public service reflects Efficient, Productive, Incorruptible and Citizen Centered Culture (EPIC) in the service,” she said.
She said the workshop had marked another significant milestone in the efforts of the Federal Government through the office of the HOCSF towards institutionalizing innovation in the Federal Civil Service. (NAN)
