The Imo State Government has begun the total reform of its civil service.Imo State Governor, Emeka Ihedioha, who gave the directive for immediate commencement of the exercise, instructed that all necessary machinery be put in place to carry it out, stressing that it is part of the rebuild Imo process, a mantra of his administration.
Ihedioha, who was represented by his deputy, Gerald Irona, made the disclosure at the weekend while speaking at a public service stakeholders’ summit held in Owerri.He described the public service as the engine room of public sector, necessary for the success of every administration, requiring vibrancy and motivation.
His words: “This summit has been convened with a view to reviving and reinventing the Imo State Public Service, and aligning it with our vision to rebuild, reposition, and transform Imo State to become one of the three most developed economies in Nigeria by the Year 2025.
“The public service, as we are all aware, is the engine room of the public sector. Governments either rise or fall on the shoulders of their public service. We are, therefore, committed to re-engineering the Imo State public service, with a view to bringing it in line with global best standards. This summit is part of the efforts aimed at restoring public service back on track.
“We are proud that Imo is a leading state when it comes to human resources. However, the productivity level of the public service has left much to be desired. Eight years of abuse, engendered by nepotism, delayed salaries, and a spate of under-payments by, sometimes, as much as 30 per cent of salaries due left the otherwise virile Imo State public service comatose. We are also aware of years of abuse of the public service procedure, and the infusion of invasive species through imposition of strange personnel without regard to due process.”
He explained that “The present government, under its Rebuild Imo agenda has embarked on a series of reforms designed to restore the morale and capacity of public service, improve service delivery and boost productivity. You would recall that this government had earlier set up a review committee to look into cases of improper or irregular appointments, promotions, and other related matters.
While we awaited the final report, we approved the restoration of payment of 100 per cent salaries to all workers in the State. In the same vein, local government workers were paid the backlog of salaries owed them by the last administration,” he said.
Explaining the transparency initiatives of his administration, the state governor said: “At the inception of this government, we set up a structure for transparency and accountability in governance process. This includes my signing into law, Executive Order 005, known as Treasury Single Account (TSA) Order designed to consolidate all government revenues under one account. We are also implementing the International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS), in compliance with international public service best practice.“My administration has applied, and is in the process of joining the Open Government Partnership (OGP), a multi-stakeholder initiative, with a view to entrenching openness and transparency in governance.”
