The acting Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Folashade Yemi-Esan, on Monday said the Federal Government had activated a new process aimed at stopping workers collecting salaries without certificates or letters of appointment from government.
Yemi-Esan unfolded the plan in the keynote address she delivered in Abuja at the induction of 700 newly recruited officers on grade level 07 to 10.
She said, “For years, we have been trying to activate the Human Resource Module of the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System in the public service. But we are bringing five more ministries (Finance, Budget and National Planning, Aviation, Transport, Petroleum Resources and Science and Technology) on board in addition to the Head of the Civil Service. What this means is that everything administrative concerning civil servants will be done on the HR Module.
“Once that it is activated, it will help to eliminate a lot of ghost workers; people that do not have certificates or letters of appointment but are claiming to be civil servants.
“Following President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive, we have commenced the process for the complete implementation of the HR Module of the IPPIS. The module is also designed to improve efficiency in the payroll system as well as enhance data integrity and consolidate staff records and management. With the steady transformation of the service to operate a more productive system, change is inevitable.”
Yemi-Esan, who said the induction was last held in 2013, noted that its resuscitation would, among other advantages, save time and resources, improve operational efficiency and promote good organisational communication. She also urged them to seek clarification in the course of duties.
“It is commonly adduced that there is job security in the civil service and as such things can be taken for granted. I wish to warn that such attitude or approach to work will only prevent an officer from attaining his or her maximum potential. If you have been abreast of developments in our contemporary public service, you will appreciate that the various reforms being introduced to transform the service are systematically taking root.
The induction programme signifies the commitment of the Federal Government to drive the vision of building a modern public service that provides world-class services for sustainable national development to a whole new level,” she added.
Yemi-Esan regretted that in the past, training programmes for civil servants were bereft of structure and target, describing it as a major challenge.
Training activities across Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government had been carried out haphazardly without considering the actual competencies lacking in the service. In most cases, training programmes were considered as welfare for staff rather than for capacity development,” observed.
