GAINS OF LAGOS PUBLIC SERVICE REFORM
Rasak Musbau
Public service is one institution which drives the activities of government all over the world. With professionals and non- professionals from whom it demands a special aptitude, training, language, discipline and culture, public service is the major instrument used by government to implement its policies, programmes and plans. It consists of the civil service which includes workers in Ministries, Extra-ministerial Departments/Agencies, the Local Government Service and Parastatals.
Going by the relationship between good governance and a virile and visionary public service, no government could surmount the enormous task of governance without resort to fundamental reforms in the public service. The much talk about Singapore example of transformation, for instance, came about as a result of late Lee Kuan Yee’s approach of re-creating the public service in his country.
Taken into account the general notion of wastefulness, inefficiency, laziness and unresponsiveness commonly levied against the Civil Service in Nigeria, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, with a mission to accelerate the progress of Lagos, had pledged in his inaugural speech to vigorously pursue the public sector reform. “As we all know, the best practices of yesterday may not be good enough for the products of today. In this sense, we shall embark on continuous reforms in the public service. I am determined to demonstrate that the government belongs to the citizens. You have put us here as servants to serve you and not you serving us. Today we are committed to that creed.’’
Looking back into that inaugural speech and fundamentals that have been taken care of in the Lagos State public service, the Ambode administration’s public service reform is characterized by creating the public service ethos- clean, efficient and exceptional service- with public interest and accountability as a primary focus. Thus far, it has been a promise kept and gains reap for the Lagos public sector and the generally of the Lagos citizens.
Building skills and capacity of the public servants to do a thorough, professional and efficient job, the State’s Structured Training Plan (STP) and noticeable impacts of this in terms of efficient service, symbolizes the State Government’s unwavering dedication to keeping Lagos on the path of sustainable progress. STP, a mandatory Learning & Development Programmes has, no doubt, integrated dynamism and competence into the State’s public service.
Again, it is pertinent to stress that the STP, the Lagos State Productivity Order of Merit Award, monthly Officer of the Month Award in several Ministry and Staff Housing Loan facility among other motivational and welfare packages, fits more closely with an American social psychologist, Douglas McGregor’s Theory Y. The central principle of the theory is that under the right conditions workers actively seek responsibility, take initiative and make creative decisions. They want to get the most out of their work through satisfaction, appreciation and motivation. The Theory assumes that control and punishments are not the only ways to stimulate people.
Lagos State Public Service, today, has gained improved work ethics, attitudinal change and productivity as a result of the new policy. It is pertinent to mention for the purpose of experience sharing that part of what precipitates efficiency in the Lagos service is the method of promotion among staff. The public servants have been spurred into higher productivity since the State began to use on-the-job assessment of officers and oral interview which is based on structured training attended by officers for promotion. This is against the hitherto promotion pattern which only required officers to study and pass, notwithstanding officers’ on the job performance.
Another vital gain of the reform is the enjoyment of lateral conversion from a cadre to another without losing a grade level or years upon acquiring additional academic qualification. In 2016, for instance, 2,095 officers applied, got recommendation from the appropriate agency and approval letters issued accordingly. 84 Officers were sponsored to Federal Training Centre for career enhancing programmes. 108 Officers were also sponsored to Local Training Workshops/Seminars and Conferences while 81 Officers equally benefited from diverse International Workshops/Seminars and Conferences.
A year ago, Lagos State Productivity Order of Merit Award was conferred on 18 outstanding and distinguished Officers of the State Public Service and one Agency, in recognition of their outstanding performances. Lagos State Productivity Merit Award was instituted to recognize and highlight the contributions of individual workers as well as Agencies. The Award underscores the State Government’s commitment to institutionalizing the culture of productivity and quality service delivery among workers in the State.
Again, no fewer than 555 Public Servants were honoured for their years of dedicated service (not less than 30 years of Service) to both the State Government and the people of Lagos State. Not a few will agree that spending 30years or more of one’s lifetime contributing to the growth and development of any organisation, particularly the Public Service is worthy of commendation. The Long Service Merit Award is, therefore, a unique opportunity to place on record the State Government’s profound appreciation for the contributions of Public Servants to the growth and development of Lagos State.
Still in the pursuit of the spirit of Theory Y, public servants are constantly in the right frame of mind to effectively perform, Staff Housing Loan facility has been increased from N50m to N100m. In the last two years, a total number of 1087 (One thousand and eighty-seven) public servants have benefitted from the loan scheme.
In addition to this, workers’ salary has been regular and promptly paid not later than on the 23rd of the month. This has surely contributed to industrial peace and harmonious relationship with all Labour Unions and the entire workforce.
In order to ascertain the level of Service Charter compliance and customer satisfaction in accessing government services, the Public Service Office, in collaboration with its technical partners SPARC/DFID and Lagos State Civil Society Partnership (LACSOP), have conducted a customer perception survey of the six (6) Most Customer Facing Service Chartered Agencies namely: Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Lands Bureau, LAWMA and MVAA.
The central message here is that public service can serve as catalyst for economic viability and progress of Lagos State. This is why the celebration of Public Service Week in Lagos State is qualified to be dubbed as celebration of excellence service delivery.
What can be learnt from Lagos public service reform is that with adequate motivation , there are grounds for optimism that public service can be refurbished and reshaped to fit into today’s shifting challenges. In summation, if Nigeria is ready for change, the maxim in public service either at the Federal, States and Local Government level must be, “give your best service to the public, the same excellent service that you would expect as a member of the public”
