Newly appointed HOS pledges continued transformation

The incoming Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Alhaji Bukar Goni Aji, has said that the rebuilding and transformation of the Federal Civil Service would continue to occupy priority direction in order to ensure the attainment of the objectives of the Transformation Agenda of Government.
Aji said this in the address he delivered at the handing over ceremony held in Abuja.
Speaking further, he said that during his tenure, he will ensure that the Service remains focused to its vision, honest to its Mission Statement and maintain its principles and core values towards the achievement of a world-class public service.
He also called for effective collaboration with all sectors of the society as the challenge posed by modern development indices cannot be surmounted by the public service alone without the collaborative partnership with the other sectors.
The incoming Head of Service promised to continue with the good works being done by his predecessor, particularly in the area of capacity building.
“Of particular note is the reintroduction of induction course for new entrants to the service as well as the mandatory Training for officers of all cadres.  I wish to assure you all that the collaborative efforts being done with Donor Agencies and other Development Partners shall receive a new boost and renewed impetus,” he said.
Aji also called on all MDAs to henceforth set aside training funds for proper utilisation.
He reasoned that it is only when MDAs show renewed commitment towards utilizing their internal funds that they can have the moral courage to approach donor agencies and development partners to attract their patronage and support.
On the issue of staff welfare, he noted the efforts made by his predecessor to motivate the workforce through deliberate policies like increasing the fleet of buses in the Service wide transport system as well as the Head of Service Office.
He promised to build on this legacy and ensure that civil servants are made more comfortable to enable them perform better.
Aji also said that the implementation of the new Performance Management System, which allows opportunity for rewarding excellence and punishment for indolence, will receive full attention during his tenure.
“We shall ensure that we maintain collaborative interactions with the Federal Civil Service Commission and the National Planning Commission to achieve that,” he said.
He called on Permanent Secretaries to uphold the principles of probity, transparency and accountability.
According to him: “We must remember that all of us swore under oath to uphold such principles. It behoves on us all to ensure that we live by such oaths and abide by them. Only by doing so can we prove to our subordinates and our other country men and women that we are truly civil in words and deeds. Only then can we have the minimum expectations of being treated with decorum and respect that will give us the moral leverage to be good examples to our subordinates and worthy servants of the tax payers on whose behalf we operate.”
Earlier in his valedictory speech, the outgoing Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Alhaji Isa Bello Sali, recounted the experience of his 18-month tenure and felt grateful that from all indications he is leaving the Service better than he met it.