Civil servants crucial to public service – Hamzat

The Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, has harped on the need to invest in the civil servants, emphasising their role as crucial to public service delivery.

Hamzat spoke through the Chairman, Civil Service Commission, Boladele Dapo-Thomas, at the unveiling of Public Service Accelerator Programme held at the Public Service Staff Development Centre, Magodo on Thursday.

He described the initiative as a critical investment in human capital development, which aligned with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s T.H.E.M.E.S+ Agenda.

“Civil servants are no longer bystanders,” the deputy governor said. “You are at the frontline of public policy and service delivery. This initiative empowers you to lead with innovation, adaptability and purpose.”

He noted that the accelerated learning model at the heart of PSAP went beyond technical training, aiming to fundamentally reshape mindsets toward proactive and strategic governance.

He explained that the programme drew inspiration from previous reform efforts such as Project Wheel, the Lateef Jakande Leadership Academy, and the Office of Transformation, Creativity and Innovation.

The Commissioner for Establishments and Training, Afolabi Ayantayo, who described the programme as the ministry’s flagship human capital development, hailed the PSAP as a “deliberate policy intervention” aimed at institutionalising excellence in public service.

We are moving from rhetoric to results — from passive service delivery to strategic, future-ready leadership,” Ayantayo said. “Governance today is not just about ticking boxes, but about the speed, trust, and innovation with which we serve the people.”

In his goodwill message, the Head of Service, Bode Agoro, lauded the programme as a “major leap” in Lagos State’s ongoing civil service reforms.

He urged the pioneer participants, drawn from Grade Levels 12 to 14, to become ambassadors of change within their respective ministries, departments and agencies.