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Tag: Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita

  • FG inaugurates committee on welfare policy for civil servants

    The Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Winifred Oyo-Ita, on Friday in Abuja,  inaugurated a Technical Committee to develop the Federal Civil Service Welfare Policy.

    Oyo-Ita said that the inauguration was part of the implementation of the 2017 to 2020 Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan (FCSSIP).

    She said that one of the major priority areas in the implementation plan was the improvement of welfare benefit packages for civil servants.

    “The policy is expected to provide a framework that would ensure that all issues of welfare of federal government employees are fully developed and institutionalised.

    “The policy will ensure that MDAs are committed to providing a caring and supportive work environment that is conducive for the welfare of all employees which enables them to develop to their full potentials,” she said.

    She urged the members of the committee to work hard and ensure they completed their assignment in three months.

    Mrs Didi Walson-Jack, Permanent Secretary, Service Welfare Office, Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF), said that the committee would ensure they deliver on their mandate.

    Walson-Jack who is also the chairman of the committee assured that, they would work assiduously to submit their report in September.

    She added that the re-establishment of the service welfare office had in August 2017 made efforts to establish a framework that would guarantee welfare of civil servants.

    The chairman explained that the development of the policy was one of the framework that have been approved by the OHCSF to provide an institutional framework for welfare of civil servants.

    Read also : Adeyeye: Ekiti people poorer under Fayose

    NAN reports that the on  Federal Government inaugurated the FCSSIP which was approved by the Federal Executive Council in July.

    The plan seeks to reposition the federal civil service for efficiency and enhanced service delivery to Nigerians in line with the current administration’s change agenda.

    The FCSSIP said the plan would also deliver between N60 billion and N120 billion in savings from cleanup of the human resource data on the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).

    Other deliverables, include annual savings of N2.5 billion from content digitisation and training of at least 25,000 civil servants through revamped core modules.

    Other areas are capacity development and training, talent sourcing, performance management, staff welfare, culture change, innovation, IPPIS and civil service automation.

  • HoS to civil servants: Plan for your retirement age now

    HoS to civil servants: Plan for your retirement age now

    The Head of Service of the Federation (HoSF), Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita has advised civil servants in the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to start planning towards their retirement ahead of actual retirement age from the public service.

    Oyo-Ita gave the advice at a maiden stakeholders meeting organized by the Institute of Retirement Management (IRM), Thursday in Abuja.

    He disclosed that retirement which ought to be an exciting phase in the life of the civil servants has become a period public servants dread most.

    She said it became imperative for them to start designing strategic plans to safeguard their finances.

    Oyo-Ita, who was represented by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary in-charge of common services, Mr. Afolayan Ayodele emphasized need for civil servant to build capacity and update their skills in order to remain relevant during retirement.

    “Equipping and empowering pre and post retirees with the requisite knowledge and skills needed for a seamless adjustment from pay employment to the uncertainties and sometimes disillusionment associated with retirement is a worthy course government and private sector must pursue together if wellbeing of Nigerian workforce must be guaranteed even after retirement,” Oyo-Ita added.

    She pledged to support the institute in any way possible towards ensuring the goal of developing capacity of civil servants ahead of retirement is achieved.

    “Start making necessary preparations to make life better in retirement,” she said.

    Earlier, former Head of Service of the Federation, Alhaji Isa Bello decried state of retirees, who are also protesting for their entitlements.

    Bello, who is the governing council chairman of the institute said the organization was put together to address the hiccups through training and empowerment of civil servants prior to retirement and after.

    According to him, the ultimate goal of the institute is to achieve improved well-being for public servants, who have spent better part of their lives serving the nation. “Our programmes are professionally designed and of strategic importance to organisations and individuals, who have genuine concerns for a fulfilling life after retirement.”

    Bello added that, “Until recently, the condition of majority of our retirees generated headlines in both the print and electronic media for the wrong reasons. As stakeholders, time and again, we were confronted by retirees, who were either demonstrating and occupying public buildings in protest over pension payment matters or by stories of retirees, who though in excellent condition at the point of their disengagement from service have either lapsed into very poor health or have passed on prematurely as a result of sudden drop in their conditions of living.”

    In his remarks, the IRM Chief Executive, Dr. Chidi Iheama, said the vision was to support the public service as many retirees are usually overwhelmed with the thought of ever leaving the service.

    He listed some fears of the government workers to include anxiety and stress arising from sudden loss of status and self-esteem, developing financial sustainability plan to manage financial insecurity as well as evolving health challenge.

    However, Iheama disclosed plans to support with entrepreneurial opportunities available in areas of services and manufacturing.

  • Father of quintuplet receives key to three-bedroom bungalow

    Father of quintuplet receives key to three-bedroom bungalow

    The Head of Service, Mrs Winifred Oyo-Ita, on Friday in Abuja, formally presented the key to the three bedroom bungalow promised the father of Quintuplet.

    Oyo-Ita, who was represented by Mr Yemi Adelakun, Permanent Secretary Common Services Office, Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, presented the key to Mr Imudia Uduehi.

    “Thank God for giving us the opportunity to be here, this is a promise we have made and thank God it has come to fruition.

    “That is to tell you that when the government of Nigeria makes a promise she fulfills it.

    “This is not the time to say things you cannot do, especially under the administration of this Head of service, this is a reality and an indication of what the Federal Integrated Staff Housing (FISH) programme has to offer.”

    She prayed God continue to bless the family and their five children while inaugurating the house.

    Oyo-Ita called on Nigerians to assist in furnishing the house for them with items such as set of chairs, beds, kitchen utensils and fridge among others.

    Also Mr Ugo Peace, Efab property manager, said the donation of a house to the family is a pointer to what FISH is about.

    He said the house is fully functional and all basic facilities are in place.

    Mr Imudia Uduehi, father of the quintuplets, who received the key on behalf of his family, said he was very happy for the house.

    “We are grateful to the Head of service and the government of Nigeria for fulfilling the promise made to us.

    “This is like a dream to me and my family and all public servants should ensure they key into the FISH programme”, he said.

    He said it is an elevation for his family as they will be moving in next weekend from a one bedroom apartment to a three bedroom bungalow.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the house is a three bedroom bungalow in Efab estate at Dakwa community in Dei-Dei area of the Federal Capital Territory.

    NAN also reports that the house has a functioning borehole and electricity with an access road.

  • Perm Sec tenure extension: Reps fault President’s Chief of Staff’s letter

    Perm Sec tenure extension: Reps fault President’s Chief of Staff’s letter

    Tempers flared on Tuesday at the House of Representatives Committee on Basic Education meeting with the Head of Service, Mrs Winifred Oyo-Ita over the extension of the tenure of the former Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Dr Jamilah Shu’ara.

    The committee had insisted on the need to be intimated with the extant laws on which her extension as permanent secretary was hinged, but the Head of Service could not provide any constitutional backing for her action, except a letter from the President’s Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari.

    It demanded to see the letter the HOS wrote which the Chief of Staff was responding to and also wondered why it took the Chief of Staff a year to respond, particularly only when the extension was under probe by the House committee.

    The Head of Service refused to produce the letter prompting lawmakers to insist that she must produce it by Thursday.

    The committee members were angry that the investigative sessions of the committee had been postponed twice at the instance of the HOS and a third one was given on Tuesday, effectively slowing the committee’s investigation.

    The Chairman of the Committee, Zakari Mohammed, faulted the letter by the Chief of Staff saying anyone in the Civil Service who has attained the age of 60 years or 35 years in Service ought to retire. The only other option is if the person is appointed by the President under section Kyari quoted ” but not an extension of tenure”.

    [quote font_size=”18″ color=”#000000″ bgcolor=”#dd9e40″ bcolor=”#dd3333″ arrow=”yes”]The letter from the President’s Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari dated 20th, March 2017 to the HOS purported to have approved the extension of Shu’ara tenure indicted the HOS by showing it was in response to a letter from her.

    The letter reads in part: “I write to acknowledge receipt of your letter ref. No. HCSF/1013/I dated March 17th, 2016.
    “In line with the provisions of 171 (2) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, Mr.President has approved the extension of the appointment of Dr Mrs Jamila Shu’ara by one year in a special dispensation which should not be cited as policy[/quote]

    The committee has vowed to get to the bottom of the matter by Thursday.

    According to the Chairman of the committee, “the HOS is frustrating this committee from doing its job.”

    The lawmakers have been trying to investigate the mystery behind the second time extension of the tenure of Dr Jamilah Shu’ara a former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education who was supposedly retired.

    Her tenure was extended from February 2016 to 2017 and again from 2017 to 2018.

    In the first instance, the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu had appeared on behalf of Dr Jamilah Shu’ara when he was not invited prompting curiously from Rep members on his motive particularly when Shu’ara did not put up an appearance on that date.

    The ministry later wrote the committee that she has been removed as Permanent Secretary. Surprisingly, she was said to have been reinstated again and her tenure extended a second time.

     

     

  • FG urged to expedite action on 260km Super highway

    FG urged to expedite action on 260km Super highway

    Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River has called on the Federal Government to expedite action on the construction of the 260-kilometre super highway in the state.

    Ayade made the appeal when the Head of Service of the Federation, Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita, visited him in Calabar.

    He told Oyo-Ita that his administration has been asked by relevant federal authorities to stop work on the project until the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report was ready.

    According to him, there are challenges in delivering his signature projects like the Super Highway and Bakassi Deep Seaport for inauguration by President Muhammadu Buhari within four years.

    The governor said it was regrettable that some persons were playing politics by ignoring the technical aspect of the projects which was important to the socio-economic development of the state.

    Ayade also urged Oyo-Ita to intercede on behalf of the State Government to get the federal authorities to discharge the challenges and ensure the completion of the projects.

    He said that Oyo-Ita could intervene by helping to ensure timely release of approvals necessary for the construction of the superhighway and the Bakassi Deep Seaport.

    Besides, the governor specifically appealed to the Head of Service of the Federation “to kindly put in words on our behalf to the Minister of the Environment and Minister of Transport.

    He said his administration desired that the federal government would expedite action on the EIA document on the projects before the Federal Ministry of Environment.

    “The Minister of Environment has come to see things for herself that the issues of the superhighway and the deep seaport were politically exaggerated by some persons,’’ he said.

    According to him, the construction of the deep seaport and the super highway will not degrade environment but add value to it.
    Ayade, who lauded Buhari for appointing three persons from Cross River into prominent positions in the country, described Oyo-Ita as a thorough bred technocrat.

    He said that Buhari deserved the commendation of every indigene of Cross River over the appointments.

    He also described Buhari as “one of the simplest and truest Nigerian president who loves this country and committed to the wellbeing and oneness of Nigeria.”

    Ayade noted the appointments from the state to include the Chief of Naval Staff, Minister of Niger Delta and the Head of Service of the Federation.

    He said: “Cross River State was also the very first to be visited by President Buhari. He made a firm commitment to return to commission the superhighway and the deep seaport.

    “For us to honour the words of Mr. President that he will come back to commission the projects, all the bottlenecks militating against the project must be removed.

    “Today, as we speak, there is no work going on, all the equipment that were mobilised have been down-sized.

    “The EIA has been issued but because of the petty concerns that have been raised, the Minister of Environment decided to come to see things for herself and she left very satisfied.

    “I want to put it on record that I have signature that is characteristic of me, to protect the environment.

    “There is no person outside our state that is better positioned to protect the environment than myself. For the superhighway, I have no intention to degrade the environment but to add value.

    “As I speak, we have been asked to stop work for a project that Mr. President wants to commission during my tenure.’’

    Speaking earlier, Oyo-Ita said she was in the state to seek for collaboration in areas of waste to wealth programme and technical training for the state’s civil service.

    She commended Ayade for initiating the projects and for being what she described as the most civil service-friendly governor in Nigeria.

    She appealed to the governor for a piece of land for the construction of the Federal Civil Service Training Centre in Calabar.

    Oyo-Ita also promised Ayade that she would do everything lawful to support Cross River as an indigene of the state.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ayade granted the request for a piece of land for the building of the Federal Civil Service Training Centre in Calabar.