Yemisi Izuora
The head of Civil Service of the federation, Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita has disclosed that implementation of reform of the Nigerian Civil Service would save the country about N2.5 billion annually from digitizing content.
This revelation is coming as the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) and Africa Initiative for Governance (AIG) reiterated their joint commitment in reforming the Nigerian Civil Service in a private-public partnership.
Oyo-Ita in her address at a two-day retreat for members of the recently constituted Project Management Teams (PMTs) for the Implementation of the 2017-2020 Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan (FCSSIP) in Calabar, Cross-River State, recently highlighted some of the benefits of the project, stating that “the implementation of the Strategy is expected to deliver N60-120bn savings from cleaning HR data, N2.5bn annual savings from digitizing content, train about 25,000 civil servants through revamped core modules and at least 3 annual innovation challenges held to cultivate ideas, technologies, and ventures for enhanced service delivery, efficiency and productivity in the public service.”
The objective of the forum was to provide orientation for the PMT members in readiness for the implementation phase of the 8 (eight) priority initiatives of the FCSSIP – which broadly cut across, Capacity Building, Staff Welfare, Digitization and Innovation.
“Following the launch of the Strategy in February 2017, the OHCSF received a Presidential intervention that culminated in OHCSF signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the Africa Initiative for Governance (AIG) and shortly after, received approval from the Federal Executive Council in July 2017,” said Oyo-Ita. “On December 7, 2017, the 8 (eight) Project Management Teams were constituted and inaugurated, and together with the relevant private sector champions, are expected to facilitate and drive the day-to-day implementation of the eight (8) priority areas of the 2017–2020 FCSSIP.
In her remarks, on the support of AIG, “I want to use this opportunity to thank AIG for their support as our major implementation partner and channel for engaging private sector reforms champions. I wish to especially thank Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, Founder and Chairman of AIG, for his laudable role and current support towards reforming the Federal Civil/Public Service.
Speaking further, she said, “The success of the implementation of the FCSSIP 2017-2020 among others, squarely depends on the commitment and diligence of the various members of the Project Management Teams. All members are therefore expected to take the project seriously towards successful implementation which will be validated by a pledge of commitment during the Retreat”.
Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, Founder and Chairman of Africa Initiative for Governance also commented on the partnership stating, “I commend the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation on coming this far in its vision to transform the way in which the public service operates and delivers public goods and services to the Nigerian people.
The exemplary leadership and passion demonstrated for the successful transformation of the Nigerian Civil Service have sustained our belief that this Nigerian Civil Service reform effort will achieve its set objectives. We are proud that thus far, our expectations have been met and our commitment to the project remains unwavering. AIG is pleased to continue in its work with the OHCSF to achieve the shared goal of improving governance and transforming public sector performance in Nigeria”.