Aregbesola Advocates Productivity As Panacea To Advance Bureaucracy In Nigeria

…As Govt Honours 170 Workers

The Governor of Osun, ‎Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has challenged the Civil Service in Nigeria on the need to be more productive and efficient.

This was even as the state government honoured 170 workers in the state for being productive, efficient and diligent to duty.

Governor Aregbesola gave the advocacy while addressing a gathering during the Public Servants Award Presentation Ceremony organized to honour outstanding civil and public servants in the state, a programme initiated by the office of the Head of Service, held at Waterfront Park Restaurant, Government Secretariat, Osogbo.

Aregbesola attributed some of the challenges facing the country to lack of productivity, nothing that a country’s ability to develop its economy depends on how efficient and productive its workforce can be.

He lamented on the proliferation of low productivity in the country particularly in the civil and public services which according to him has affected all, particularly the citizen’s national daily lives.

Aregbesola however called on Nigerians, especially the ‎bureaucrats to rise to the challenge by prioritizing efficiency, productivity and competence in all they do, saying the success of a nation lies in its productivity capacity.

According to him, it is unfortunate that as big as we are, and as famous as we are as a nation, we still lack the required productivity and efficiency to succeed as a country.

“Our level of productivity as a people in Nigeria is abysmally low just as the menace has had negative impact on our economy as a nation. We have the resources but we are not productive.

“A country’s ability to develop its economy is dependent on how efficient and productive its workforce can be, so our productivity as a people in Nigeria is very low and this is affecting us.

“And very unfortunately our environment typifies the low level of our productivity and we have a lot to do to improve it”, Aregbesola charged.

The governor held that his drive to improve the economy of the state is not about himself, but rather because of the masses. He said the public servants are in the best position to support his administration at making life better for the people.

“You are the game changers and the significance is that you (civil servant) are capable of creating the reference for others by providing the template for efficiency and productivity.

“Every day you go to work, I want you to desire to improve on your yesterday’s performance at work, I want you to assess yourself to see if the input of your employer is higher or lower than your own input.

“There must be a surplus value, it is only then that the society can develop. I am worried at our inability to rise up to this challenge since assumption of office, but I promise to continue to do my best to improve the economy of this state within the remaining days of this administration.

“The beautification of this government secretariat is one of our own ways of motivating you to work because we know that the difference between man and animal is the environment where they occupy”, Aregbesola urged.‎

In his remarks, the Osun Head of Service, Dr. Olowogboyega Oyebade commended Governor Rauf Aregbesola for being committed to human and capital development of the state.

Oyebade affirmed that the state government under the Aregbesola’s administration had provided an enabling environment and workable atmosphere for workers to thrive and perform their duties comfortably.

He emphasized that the civil servants in the state had never had it so good as being experienced at the moment since the creation of the state.

The state number one civil servant described the Governor’s kind gesture to advance the welfare of the state’s workforce as panacea to all round growth and development which the Osun has been witnessing in the last seven years.

Oyebade said the provision of a conducive environment and level playing ground for every civil and public servant to succeed remains sacrosanct, stressing that the workers in the state are more confident because they have a governor who has their welfare at heart.

He noted that the last one 106 days as Head of Service under Aregbesola has been worthwhile as he has been able to promote productivity and efficiency in state’s civil service.

Oyebade then pledged that all members of the public service which he leads will continue to work for the continuity of all the laudable legacies of the present administration.

While commending Mr Governor for reviewing and approving the promotion for all workers across board who are due for promotion, Oyebade disclosed that the Aregbesola’s government has done the necessary to put smile to the faces of the state’s workers in all ramifications in spite the present economic challenges.

“I want to say that the last one hundred and six days as head of service in Osun has been very eye opening because it has afforded me the opportunity to move close to the Governor and feel the passion of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola towards the welfare of Osun workers.

“Without asking, the governor graciously approved the appointment of three new Permanent Secretaries, including the Statistician General, all in a bid to make the public service work more efficiently.

“My emergence has brought to the system, particularly the workers, the necessary motivation and spirit of Omoluabi ethos that signifies efficiency, productivity and effectiveness to service.

“So, I am assuring the state, particularly Mr Governor, that public service which I head will continue to be supportive to advance the vision, policies and agenda of the state for the betterment of all.