Civil Service Key to Good Governance in Nigeria...

Professionals in the country have said that civil service is a stabilising force and hub of government activities, which guarantees continuity in governance of a country.

According to them, despite challenges faced by the civil service, especially during the military era, which eroded its core values, the civil service has continued to make spirited effort to recover its past glory, especially under the present administration.

The professionals, Deaconess Joan Ayo, chairman, Federal Civil Service Commission; Chief Phillip Asiodu, Dr. Tunji Olaopa and Dr. Goke Adegoroye unanimously agreed, while featuring on NTA "Tuesday Live."

They took this position while discussing the topic: "Federal Civil Service Commission @ 60: The Way Forward."

According to Ayo, the commission under her leadership was determined to uphold the traditional core values of civil service in the country.

She vowed to ensure an efficient civil service that was patriotic, highly cultured and committed to the sustainable development of the country in line with President Goodluck Jonathan's transformation agenda.

Ayo pointed out that the commission had shied away from its responsibility to uphold its vision and mission, especially the insistence on strict adherence to the measures put in place to increase number of vacancies.

She also promised to lead the commission to ensure "a civil service that will take its rightful position and contribute to the socio-economic development of Nigeria, as well as embrace normal core values, job efficiency, discipline and professionalism in their attitude to work."

"These are what we have been yearning for; most importantly, a civil service that is well trained and globally competitive, because we don't want to see ourselves as an island doing our things differently from global practices," she added.

In his contribution, Dr. Olaopa, who is the permanent secretary, Federal Ministry of Communication Technology, informed that a new change programme in the civil service was premised on policy management, process re-engineering and capacity enhancement framework.