The Nation Newspaper

Tag: HOS

  • HoS urges creation of national awards for teaching excellence

    HoS urges creation of national awards for teaching excellence

    The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HoS), Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, has called for the establishment of specific national awards to recognise excellence in teaching, urging public and private organizations to institutionalise such honors. 

    She made this appeal during the 2024 World Teachers’ Day celebration and President’s Teachers and Schools Excellence Award ceremony in Abuja, emphasising that celebrating teachers should be a continuous national priority, not limited to a single day.

    Walson-Jack stressed that recognising teachers’ efforts is vital to encouraging innovation and commitment within the profession. 

    According to her: “When teachers are appreciated for their creativity and hard work, they are empowered to shape lives with even more passion and innovation. 

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    “She proposed that awards highlight exceptional contributions, innovative teaching methods, and impactful mentorship at local, state, and national levels.”

    The HoS noted that these recognitions should be backed by tangible incentives and opportunities for professional development to ensure educators are fully equipped to handle the dynamic challenges of modern education. 

    Walson-Jack further praised the integration of the President’s Teachers and Schools Excellence Award into the celebration, acknowledging the extraordinary work of teachers, administrators, and schools nationwide.

    President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, represented by Senator George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, assured the administration’s commitment to improving teachers’ welfare and enhancing the quality of education in the country.

    The event concluded with car gift presentations by the Federal Government to outstanding teachers, administrators, and schools, alongside recognition of six state governors by the National Union of Teachers (NUT) for their significant contributions to education in their states.

  • Fayose orders HOS to issue promotion letters to 45,000 workers in one week

    The Ekiti State Head of Service, (HOS), Dr. Gbenga Faseluka, has been given one week  to distribute promotion letters to the over 45,000 civil servants who recently sat for qualifying interview and passed. Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti gave the one-week ultimatum yesterday to Faseluka in Ado Ekiti. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the governor gave the order at a news conference in Ado Ekiti.

    He also said that his administration was set to fulfil an earlier promise of employing over 2,000 new hands into the state public service. He said he would personally supervise and monitor the process of recruiting the new workers, so as to guide against any form of favouritism. Fayose said that those to be employed would cut across all the 16 local government areas of the state without applying political or religious attachment.

    “In my administration, the people of Ekiti know my style. You do not need to know the governor, a big man or any member of his cabinet before you get what is due to you. Once you are tested and deemed to be qualified, you will be taken without the so-called connection that is the norm in most places,” he said. The governor, however, alleged that certain persons and political parties were attempting to buy no less than 200,000 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) yet to be collected by their legitimate owners.

    He alleged that if they succeed, they would use them to rig next month’s gubernatorial election coming up on July 14. The governor appealed to those who registered but had not collected their PVCs to go for them to prevent any form of rigging. However, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) in the state, Mr Taiwo Gbadegesin, denied the allegation.

     

  • Abia HOS urges revival of SERVICOM units in MDAs

    Abia HOS urges revival of SERVICOM units in MDAs

    Dr Vivian Uma, the Abia Head of Service ( HOS ) has directed Ministries, Departments and Agencies in the state to quickly revive their Service Compact  ( SERVICOM ) units.

    Uma, who gave the directive on Tuesday in Umuahia when he paid an unscheduled visit to the new and old state secretariats, also said that such units should be established where they did not exist before now.

    According to him, SERVICOM units help government offices to get spontaneous feedback from the public for improved service delivery.

    Uma stressed the need to reinforce workers obligation to fill attendance and movement registers while at work daily.

    He also directed that attendance registers be closed by 8:45 a.m. each working day and expressed displeasure over poor resumption of workers after the public holidays.

    He urged heads of MDAs to ensure that all annual leave rosters did not extend beyond November in line with Abia State Civil Service rules.

    Uma commended Dr Okezie Ikpeazu’s government for its unwavering commitment to paying the salaries of civil servants in the MDAs up to December 2017.

    He further urged workers to shun lateness to work and other acts inimical to the growth of the civil service.

    Meanwhile, Mr Iyke Odoemelam, the state Director of Information, Mr Okala Uduma, the Director of Civil Engineering, Ministry of Works, and Mrs Uzoamaka Ujah of the Ministry of Health, in separate remarks, pledged their unalloyed support to government.

  • Maina: ‘AGF, HOS didn’t inform Dambazzau’ of reinstatement

    Maina: ‘AGF, HOS didn’t inform Dambazzau’ of reinstatement

    The row over the dismissed Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Pension Reforms Task Team, Abdulrasheed Maina, deepened yesterday, following fresh revelation that Minister of Interior Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazzau was never briefed about Maina’s recall.

    Dambazzau was not even aware that Maina was in his ministry until a crisis broke out on the latter.

    Also, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami and the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Winfred Oyo-Ita, did not engage Dambazzau at any point on the controversy surrounding Maina’s reinstatement.

    It was learnt that Dambazzau got to know of Maina’s recall and presence in the ministry in Vienna, Austria, when the crisis over his reinstatement erupted.

    All the correspondences on Maina were shared by the Office of the AGF, Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, Abubakar Magaji.

    These facts are contained in some documents obtained by The Nation against the backdrop of the unending controversy on Maina.

    There were indications that the fact sheets have been made available to the Presidency to put Dambazzau’s position in perspective.

    Excerpts from one of the sheets read:  “Maina was serving the Ministry of Interior before he was made  the Chairman of the Pension Task Force. During the administration of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, it was the Senior Staff Disciplinary Committee that sacked him. The Senior Staff Committee has representations from the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation and the Federal Civil service Commission.

    “Following his sack and litigation, he went back to the Senior Staff Committee for a reconsideration. The minister had no input at any level on how Maina was reinstated because administrative issues / bureaucracy are handled by the Permanent Secretary.

    “The issues of appointment, promotion and disciplinary matters are under the supervision of the Permanent Secretary through the appropriate civil service committees. This is what obtains in all ministries, where ministers do not play any role or interfere in bureaucratic process.

    “There is no direct link between the office of a minister and the OHCSF. The Permanent Secretary in each ministry relates with OHCSF.”

    On the reinstatement of Maina, another fact-sheet said: “”The Minister of Interior  had nothing to do with it because it is not within his purview. Neither the AGF/ Minister of Justice nor the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation brought Maina’s reinstatement to the Minister of Interior. In spite of the fact that ministers meet every Wednesday at the Federal Executive Council meeting,  none of them whispered that there was a case involving Maina. These facts can be verified.

    “The Minister of Interior became aware of the reinstatement of Maina when he was in Vienna, Austria following controversy on the exercise.

    “Findings by the minister confirmed that Maina was reinstated and came back to the Ministry of Interior towards the end of September. The minister was not aware of his presence until the issue  of Maina’s reinstatement became public knowledge.”

    As at press time, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC) was still searching for Maina.

    Maina has been arraigned with  a former Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mr. Steve Oronsaye, and two others before the court  for alleged N2 billion Pension funds allegedly mismanaged for biometric contracts.

    Others standing trial in the case, which began on July 10, 2015, are Osarenkhoe Afe and Fredrick HamiltonbGlobal Services Limited.

    The suspects are facing a 24-count charge bordering on procurement fraud and obtaining by false pretence. Neither Maina nor Oronsaye has been discharged.

    Oronsaye and two others had pleaded not guilty to the charge. Maina had been on the run until he resurfaced through bush path to resume duties.

  • HoS denies approving Maina’s reinstatement

    The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita has denied approving the reinstatement of former Presidential Task Force on Pension Reforms, AbdulRasheed Maina to the Ministry of Interior.

    In a statement by her Media assistant Mohammed Manga, the HoS denied that Maina’s reinstatement and posting came from her office.

    “The attention of the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation has been drawn to several media reports that the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation has approved the reinstatement into the Federal Civil Service of Alhaji Abdulrasheed Abdullahi Maina and his subsequent posting to the Ministry of Interior.

    “The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation wishes to inform the public that the reinstatement and posting of Alhaji Abdulrasheed Abdullahi Maina never emanated from the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.

    “Consequently, the purported reinstatement and posting by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation is totally erroneous and misleading.”

    Mrs. Oyo-Ita and the Minister of Interior, Lt Gen AbdulRaham Danbazau are speaking differently on the same issue, the Minister had earlier said he is not involve in Maina,s promotion, stating tat Maina,s posting was from the HOS.

    The minister, in a statement signed by his press secretary, Ehisienmen Osaigbovo, in Abuja on Sunday, said Maina was deployed to the Ministry of Interior in an acting capacity following the retirement of the director in charge of the human resources department.

    The statement read, “The ex-chairman of the Presidential Task Force Team on Pension Reforms, Abdulrasheed Maina, was posted a few days ago to the Ministry of Interior by the Office of the Head of Service in an acting capacity to fill a vacancy following the retirement of the director heading the human resources department in the ministry.”

     

  • HoS briefs Buhari on FISH, strategic plan

    The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita, on Tuesday briefed President Muhammadu Buhari on some activities of the service.

    Among the issues she updated the President included the Federal Integrated Staff Housing (FISH) programme and the 2017- 2019 Head of Service Strategic Plan.

    Briefing State House correspondents after the meeting, she said the FISH programme, which is an initiative of the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation and launched in 2016, is aimed at addressing the bottlenecks encountered in securing land for good projects.

    According to her, the project is also to eliminate middlemen and land speculations from the housing value-chain.

    Stressing that the FISH programme was very dear to President Buhari, Oyo-Ita said it would be efficiently implemented to achieve the desired goals.

    She said, “Mr. President wanted an update on the (Civil) Service so far and especially the 2017 – 2019 Head of Service Strategic Plan and also briefed him on our FISH programme (Federal Integrated Staff Housing (FISH) programme), which as you is sub-set of Mr. President’s National Housing Policy, which is so dear to his heart.

    “Well the FISH programme as you note, what we are now relating with the developers and then we are also working very closely with the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria especially in the area of mortgage facilities for civil servants.

    “The Minister of Power, Works and Housing has given us a lot of cooperation in this regard.’’

    The Head of Service Strategic Plan from 2017-2019, she said, was aimed at repositioning the Federal Civil Service for efficient service delivery to Nigerians and progressive development of the nation.

     

  • Ripples as Dickson extends services of retired HoS, Perm Sec

    Stakeholders are angry with the decision of the Bayelsa State Governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson, to extend the services of the state’s retired Head of Service (HoS), Dr. Peter Singabele and Permanent Secretary, Mr. Joseph Akedesuo.

    The governor extended Singabele’s appointment as Head of Service by six months and Akedesuo who is the Head of the state’s Protocol Service by one year. The governor’s action is breeding bad blood among the permanent secretaries and other senior civil servants. They are grumbling and accusing Dickson of violating the civil service rules.

    A statement sent through the office of Dickson’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson said the extension was in exercise of the governor’s executive powers.

    The statement quoted the Secretary to the state Government, Chief Serena Dokubo-Spiff as saying that the extension was informed by the numerous important ongoing service related issues being handled by Singabele.

    It said allowing the retried Singabele “to leave the service now” could be detrimental to the administration’s programme of repositioning the civil service for greater efficiency.

    The governor in the state also extended the appointment of Mr. Joseph Akedesuo as a Permanent Secretary and Head of State Protocol services for a period of one year.

    But some elders under the auspices of Bayelsa First Initiative (BFI) kicked against the action of the governor. BFI said there was no basis for Dickson to extend the appointment of Singabele.

    The Director-General, BFI, Chief Nathan Egba, accused the governor of manipulating government’s institutions and policies to advance his personal interests.

    Egba said: “This development is coming on the heels of the Bayelsa State government’s inability to pay salaries of their Civil servants, teachers, University lecturers, local government employees as well as retirees, after series of Staff Verification exercises since January of this year.”

    Egba recalled that Dickson on assuming office in 2012 sacked the HoS who was barely a year in office because she was appointed by his predecessor, Chief Timipre Sylva.

    Also, the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) frowned on the decision of the governor to extend the service of the retired HoS. They called on Dickson to with immediate effect appoint a new HoS to fill the exalted vacant position.

    The state NLC Chairman, Mr. Ndiomu Bipre and his TUC counterpart, Mr. Tari Dounana in a joint statement warned against the politicization of the HoS office in the state. According to them no Head of Service stays in office beyond the retirement age of 60 or 35 years whichever is applicable.

    “The continuous stay of the current Head of Service Doctor Peter Singabele beyond the retirement age of sixty years or thirty five years in service is a source of worry to workers in the state.  The Public Service Rules 02081 is very clear about retirement of public servants.

    “As a career civil servant, we expect the Head of Service to step aside or refuse any form of tenure elongation in order not to truncate promotion in the civil service,” they said.

    Furthermore, the leadership of the state’s branch of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) rejected the extension of Singabele’s and Akedesuo’s appointments.

    The Association, in a statement signed by its Secretary, Mr. Ebi Sikpi, said the contract appointments were a violation of the Public Service Rules, PSR 020810.

    Quoting the rule, he said: “No officer shall be allowed to remain in service after attaining the retirement age of sixty or thirty five years of pensionable service whichever is earlier”.

    Sikpi said there were qualified and competent permanent secretaries in the service to choose from for apportionment as HoS.

    But the state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Jonathan Obuebite, insisted that Singabele’s reappointment is part of the governor’s efforts to reposition the civil service for effective performance.

    Obuebite said the governor recently met with Permanent Secretaries, Directors and Heads of Departments of various ministries, departments and agencies and commended them for supporting all his reforms in the civil service.

    He said Dickson assured them that whatever the government doing was purely to properly reposition the service to function effectively, in line with best practices. According to him the permanent secretaries, directors and heads of departments were unanimous in their support for the ongoing reforms in the service.

    He said they declared their total support for the six-month extension of the tenure of Singabele and expressed confidence in the ability of Singabele to ensure the proper implementation of the new reforms.

  • How to create efficient public service, by HoS

    Lagos State Head of Service (HOS) Mrs Olabowale Ademola has urged public servants to continue to provide quality service in line with the government’s policy of inclusion.

    Mrs Ademola was briefing reporters over the weekend, to kick off the 2016 Public Service Week Celebration in the state, with the theme, “Inclusiveness and Public Service Delivery”.

    The celebration, she said, was significant because it is an opportunity to reflect on the progress made so far in transforming the civil service into a modern, innovative and effective instrument of governance and development.

    The commemoration of the Public Service Day, the HoS noted, is in pursuance of the Tangier Declaration of the Conference of African Civil Service Ministers which in 1994 mandated African countries to observe June 23 as the African Day of Administration and Civil Service.

    “The primary objective of the celebration is to acknowledge the contributions that the civil service makes towards the development of our dear state and to highlight the vital role it will play in meeting the challenges which the 21st century promises. The day is also meant to draw attention to the working conditions and quality of public servants who devote their lives to service diligently,”Mrs. Ademola said.

    According to her, Lagos is one of the few states consistently observing the Public Service Day and the government has lined up activities stretching over a week which would end on Thursday, in order to show how important the day is to the Public Service Office.

    She added: “As it is our tradition, a lot of activities mixed with pomp and ceremony have been lined up in a week-long exercise that will climax June 23 to commemorate the day. Such activities include Jumat service’, interdenominational service, walk for Fitness, parades by Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAS), visitation to charitable organisations, health screening and public lecture, among others.”

    The HoS urged public servants to participate in all the activities to ensure a successful week-long celebration.

    Earlier,Ven. Femi Taiwo Presiding Chaplain of the Chapel of Christ the Light, Alausa, Ikeja, advised the workers tobe diligent in their duties.

    He gave the advice at an Interdominational Thanksgiving Service to commemorate the celebration.

    Speaking on the theme: “Faithful servants & reward of hard work”, Ven. Taiwo said public servants must be assiduously in their assignment, distinguish themselves and exhibit exemplary service.

    He said: “Hard work is the antidote to poverty’ adding that God created people to work, give service to humanity and care for others hence public servants must always work hard.

    The thanksgiving service was attended by the governor’s wife, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode, who was represented by the Commissioner for the Environment, Dr. Babatunde Adejare, the Chief Judge, Justice Olufunmilayo Atilade, who was represented by the Chief Registrar of the Lagos, High Court, Mr. Emmanuel Ogundare; Mrs. Ademola, a former Head of Service, Mr Adesegun Ogunlewe, and  Permanent Secretaries.

  • HoS urges Lagos workers on diligence, service delivery

    Lagos State Head of Service Mrs. Olabowale Ademola has urged public servants to exhibit diligence in the discharge quality service delivery, which she described as the thrust of the Governor Akinwunmi Ambode administration.

    Ademola spoke in Lagos at news conference to kick off this year’s Public Service Week in the Centre of Excellence. The week has “Inclusiveness and public service delivery” as its theme.

    The HoS pointed out that the week offers an opportunity to reflect on the journey and the progress made so far towards the transformation of the state civil service into a modern, innovative and effective instrument of governance and development.

    According to her, the commemoration of the Public Service Day is in pursuance of the Tangier Declaration of the Conference of African Civil Service Ministers which in 1994 mandated all African countries to commemorate 23rd of June as the African Day of Administration and Civil Service.

    Her words: “The primary objective of the celebration is to acknowledge the important contributions that the Civil Service makes towards the development of our dear State and to highlight the vital role which the civil service will play in meeting the challenges which the 21st century promises. The Day is also meant to draw due attention to the working conditions and quality of public servants who devote their lives to serving the public diligently.”

    Mrs. Ademola described Lagos as one of the few states that has consistently observed the Public Service Week, adding that the government has therefore lined up a weeklong activity to mark the week.

    “As it is our tradition, a lot of activities mixed with pomp and pageantry have been lined up in a week-long exercise that would climax on June 23 to commemorate the day. Such activities include a Jumat service, interdenominational service, walk for fitness, parades by the various MDAs, visitation to charitable organisations, health screening and public lecture among others,” the HoS said.

  • Buhari swears in Oyo-Ita as HoS

    Buhari swears in Oyo-Ita as HoS

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    President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday administered oath of office on the new Head of Service (HoS) of the Federation, Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita.

    She was inaugurated before the commencement of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by the President.

    The inauguration has made her the substantive Head of Service.

    She stepped into the new position in acting capacity in October 2015 when the former HoS, Mr. Danladi Kifasi proceeded on terminal leave.

    The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, read her citation after which she took her oath of office and oath of allegiance before the President and proceeded to sign the oath register.

    The President then counter-signed the register and shook hand with Oyo-Ita.

    Among those who also shook hands with her included Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari.

    Speaking with State House correspondents at the end of the inauguration, Oyo-Ita promised that she will fight corruption in the system.

    She also promised to boost capacity building for the civil servants.