The Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, has approved the construction of a Public Service Training Institute at Chokocho in Etche Local Government Area.
The State Head of Service, HOS, Mrs. Esther Anucha, JP, made this known in Port Harcourt while declaring open a two-week Refresher Course for the First Batch of Administrative Officers in the State Civil Service organized by the establishment, training and pensions Bureau office and the Head of Service, Governor’s office.
Mrs. Anucha stated that when completed the Institute would be equipped with the state of the art facilities and boarding facilities to train and re-train civil servants.
The HOS also disclosed that the State Government has put in motion a move to introduce a Higher National Diploma (HND) course in partnership with the State Bori Polytechnic for civil servants that would proceed to further their academic pursuits.
She said the Special Diploma Programme introduced for executive officers who have stagnated over the years have successfully graduated the first batch and have been promoted to the next grade level in their various offices.
Mrs. Anucha pointed out that the second batch of officers who have completed their courses would be eligible to attend the next promotion exercise at the civil service commission.
All these, she added, were the deliberate and bold steps taken by the present administration to boost capacity building among staff to enhance efficiency and productivity in the services.
The HOS congratulated the officers for participating in the compulsory administrative officers examination and appreciated the efforts of the co-ordinators of the programme for sustaining the training over the years.
She charged the resource personnel of the course to ensure that participants are well acquainted with all aspects of public service rules and circulars.
In his speech, the Permanent Secretary in the establishments, training and pensions Bureau, Sir Gift Ake, described administrative officers as the blue blood of the service and said of recent they have become the dust bin of the service.
Sir Ake attributed the fall of the administrative class to the fact that they left to do those things that are necessary and were doing the unnecessary things, adding, “they must be seen to be doing the right things and always be at the right time to maintain their proper place in the service.”
Earlier in his welcome address, the co-ordinator of the course and Director of Management Services and Training in the Bureau, Mr. Chinda Wali said 120 staff are participating in the course which aimed at preparing them to sit for the compulsory administrative officers examination.
Wali stated that seasoned resource personnel have been carefully selected to teach participants in public service rules, financial regulations, procedure for effective communication and memo writing.
Jeff Oguike
