About 118 civil servant graduates of ‘Leadership Enhancement and Development Programme (Lead-P), on Tuesday passed out after successful completion of their Programme.
During the passing out parade, the Federal Government promised to provide laptops and housing loans to the 118 graduated LEAD-P, civil servants.
The Head of the Service of the Federation (HOCSF), Dr Folasade Yemi-Esan, disclosed at the graduation ceremony of the participants that out of 123 candidates that participated in the Programme, 118 graduated, four others pulled out with no explanations, one died few days to the day of graduation.
According to her, those who absconded from the programme are to be sanctioned.
While regretting their actions, she said a report of their action was being prepared to be sent to their respective Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), for sanctions.
She stated that the Lead-P training had a goal of cultivating hundred officers on salary grade levels 10 to 14 annually, explaining that the programme was meant to produce the next generation of leaders in the Federal Civil Service.
HOCSF disclosed that the programme was the key component of the first phase of the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan (FCSSIP) 2021 to 2025.
She added that it was for capacity building and talent management of public servants to improve the nation’s civil service.
“This priority of this initiative is geared towards addressing the need to strengthen and reinvigorating the civil service workforce through well structured and sustainable capacity building programmes.
“It is therefore, quite elating to observe that today’s graduation ceremony is symbolic of the progress recorded towards the full implementation of that aspect of the FCSSIP,” Yemi-Esan said.
According to her, the Federal Government is determined to enhance the working conditions of the graduands with the provision of work tools including laptops and immediate releasing of resources for their housing loans.
“I will like to use this opportunity to inform you that the office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation has started arrangement to ensure that each one of the 118 of you gets laptops to enhance your work.
“Also, I will like to inform you that the Federal Government Staff Housing Loan Board has set aside resources to grant immediate housing loan to all of you,” she said.
Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, praised Yemi-Esan for her laudable initiative.
According to him, leadership development for effective succession planning has, over time, remained the bane of the civil service.
“This demonstrates the fact that public servants must have the capacity to support fast-moving political agendas, manage and transform vast public organisations, motivate and inspire their workforce and be trusted partners to citizens and an ever-growing list of development partners and stakeholders.” He said.
Mustapha stated that the reform in the nation’s civil service has made a remarkable impact especially during the COVID-19 pandemic period.
“Globally, we saw how effective public service leaders rose to the challenge of COVID-19, leveraging new technologies and managing their workforces in innovative ways to protect their well being, while maintaining and boosting the delivery of essential services.
“Daunting though it may have been, there is no gainsaying the fact that the world including Nigeria has risen to the challenge,” SGF remarked.
President of the Africa Initiative for Governance, Mr Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, said they are committed to working with the head of service and all other apparatus of government to support reforms that would transform the civil service.
