Kogi State Introduces Incentives to Boost Civil Service Performance
Dr. Elijah Adeiza Evinemi, the Head of Civil Service for Kogi State, reiterated the government’s commitment to revitalizing the civil service to meet international standards. The initiative includes implementing incentives for high performance among civil servants and enhancing training programs to improve skills and efficiency in public service roles.
Evinemi emphasized that these reforms are crucial for achieving optimal performance and effective service delivery, aligning with best practices globally.
He revealed that the state has initiated specialized training sessions to boost the capabilities of administrative and executive officers, covering essential topics like work ethics and office management.
Speaking at a one-day leadership development session held at the Conference Hall of the State Secretariat in Lokoja, he portrayed the civil service as the engine room of governance and underscored the need for continuous reforms.
Evinemi said one of the key takeaways from the session was the need to expand the Government Performance Index, which has been in place but would now include an incentive programme for outstanding civil servants.
He stressed that rewarding excellence would serve as motivation for improved performance and service delivery.
He also revealed that the proposal for revitalizing the civil service had already been presented to the governor, whom he said had given verbal approval for its implementation.
He expressed his appreciation for Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo’s commitment to fortifying the civil service, enabling it to effectively drive government policy implementation, and observed that the participation of Permanent Secretaries and Directors in the session underscored the administration’s emphasis on building capacity and promoting efficient governance.
He emphasized that the restructuring process aims to elevate Kogi State’s civil service to the same level as the country’s most exemplary institutions, ensuring it remains competitive and efficient in the face of an ever-changing governance landscape.
In his presentation, Dr. Adams Adeiza, Associate Professor at Malaysia’s Sunway University and guest speaker, introduced the Kogi Service Pledge, a framework designed to enhance governance and service delivery in the state.
He explained that the pledge is built on key principles such as knowledge-driven leadership, openness and accountability, goal-oriented innovation, inter-agency synergy, character and competence, as well as inclusion and diversity.
He emphasized the need for Kogi State to adopt global best practices, citing Singapore and Dubai as an examples of nations that successfully transformed their civil service through strategic reforms.
He urged policymakers to focus on digitalization, ensuring that governance processes are streamlined to enhance efficiency and service delivery.
Adeiza also advocated for the adoption of the No Wrong Door Initiative, which ensures that citizens receive government services efficiently, regardless of which office they approach.
Furthermore, he recommended the establishment of an enterprise development scheme within the civil service to promote innovation, self-motivation, and enhance productivity among civil servants in the state.
