Bayelsa gov tasks permanent secretaries on better service delivery

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.

Diri, who was 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 state capital.

The training was organised by the Bayelsa State Government in collaboration with the Nigeria Institute of Management (Chartered), under 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 “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, Diri stressed the need for continuous learning.

Making reference to the managerial principles of the German political economist, Max Weber, Diri warned that public servants who failed to update their knowledge could become disconnected from current realities.

He said, “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 who 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 time, you see that activities and decisions in some ministries 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 state’s Head of Service, Dr Ebiye Sawyer, said the training came at a time when citizens expected government institutions to be more responsive, transparent and efficient.

Sawyer noted that permanent secretaries occupy a strategic position in the machinery of government, with the 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.

“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,” Sawyer said.

In his goodwill message, the Chairman, Bayelsa State Civil Service Commission, Perekiye Buruboyefe, urged the participants to open their minds and hearts to the knowledge to be offered during the programme and wished them a successful training.

Also speaking, the Chairman, NIM (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.

Present at the event were the State Director, Code of Conduct Bureau, Mr Jonathan Asigo; the Chairman, Permanent Secretaries Forum, Dr Agadah Zuoboemi; Commissioner for Information, Orientation and Strategy, Ebiuwou Koku-Obiyai; among others.