Friday, 12 September 2014

ONE YEAR OF ACHIEVEMENTS AT THE BUREAU OF PUBLIC SERVICE REFORMS (BPSR) - ( AUGUST 2013 - AUGUST, 2014) - PART 3

6 Development of a new Human Resource Management (HRM) Curriculum and matrix of continuous education programme for HRM practitioners in the Federal Public Service. 


The National Strategy for Public Service Reforms under Pillar 4: Civil Service Administration supports the development of a policy and strategies for the professionalization of some key cadres across the Federal Civil Service, including staffing of Human Resource Management (HRM) departments in all MDAs by HRM professionals. In this context, the World Bank under the Economic Reform and Governance Project (ERGP) supported the Bureau to conduct a “Diagnostic Study and Dialogue on the "Review and Professionalization of the Human Resources Management System of the Federal Civil Service" in 2012. The primary objectives of the study were to develop a model and framework to professionalize the HRM functions; and the creation of HRM Cadre from existing cadres in the Federal Civil Service. 

The main deliverables from the Study was the production of a comprehensive Report with detailed implementation strategy for transforming the Federal Civil Service into a professional service, especially in relations to current personnel and generalist functions.

The Report of the study recommended, among others, assembling a team of experts from reputable Management Development Institutions (MDIs) to develop a new Curriculum of Competency Framework and Matrix of Mandatory continuous Education Programme for HRM practitioners in the Federal Civil Service; and conduct of a Skills and Knowledge Inventory of current HRM practitioners and Administrative Officers in the Federal Civil Service. To this end, the Bureau constituted a team of MDIs experts on 15th January, 2014 to develop a new HRM Curriculum and Matrix of continuous education programme for HRM practitioners in the Federal Civil Service. The MDI team of experts worked under the chairmanship of the Director General, ASCON and were drawn from the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON), Centre for Management Development (CMD); Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM), Industrial Training Fund (IFT) and Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM). In May, 2014 the MDI team of experts submitted the new HRM Curriculum to the Bureau which is to serve as the requisite tools for developing officers in the HR cadre in the Federal Civil Service. The new HRM Curriculum for HRM practitioners in the Federal Public Service has received very favourable reviews by independent organizations and development partners including the World Bank and DFID-FEPAR and commended for its high quality.

For the effective implementation of the new HR Curriculum and Competency Framework, and Matrix of Continuous Education Programme in the Federal Civil Service, the next step actions identified include:

·    The creation of a HR cadre to facilitate the professionalization of the HRM function in the Federal Civil Service to be approved by the National Council on Establishment (NCE);
·       
        The revision of the Scheme of Service to enable the implementation of the HR Competency Framework;

  The formal approval of the new HRM Curriculum and Competency   Framework, and Matrix of Continuous Education Programme for HRM Practitioners in the Federal Civil Service as tools for developing officers in the HR cadre in the Federal Civil Service; and
·   
      The conduct of a service-wide skills and knowledge inventory of current HRM Practitioners and Administrative Officers in the Federal Civil Service. The Bureau has already commissioned ASCON to undertake this assignment in collaboration with the CMO/OHCSF.

7     Institution of the BPSR Reform Seminar Series.

On 26th June, 2014, the Bureau’s instituted a “BPSR Reform Seminar Series” as part of its broader function of conducting research on reform implementation efforts and presenting “best practice” models. The inaugural edition of the Reform Seminar on the topic “New Directions for Public Service Reforms” took place at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday, 26th June 2014. The primary objective of the Seminar was three folds. First, it was to provide a forum for the active exchange of innovation ideas, knowledge in public administration and governance in Nigeria and internationally. Second it was to address salient issues and share experiences about what has worked and what has not worked well, both within the Nigerian Public Service, and in other countries; and third, it was to assist the Bureau to build a framework and network of collaboration for the improvement of innovation in Nigerian public administration and governance; and that lessons learnt from the Seminar will not only stimulate innovative thinking and actions in Nigerian public administration and governance, but also go a long way to enrich the debate about the future of the Nigerian Public Service and its role in the delivery of the Transformation Agenda.


The Bureau partnered with the World Bank, UK Department of International Development (DFID) and the DFID-Federal Public Service Administration Reform programme to deliver the inaugural edition of the Seminar. The Guest Speakers at the occasion were a) Dr. Willy McCourt of the World Bank, USA; and Dr. David Booth of the Overseas Development Institute, United Kingdom. The two distinguished Speakers were also complemented by known Nigerian experts on public service reforms and governance, including Dr. Goke Adegoroye, the pioneer Director General of BPSR. The outcome of the Seminar will soon be disseminated to relevant government agencies for next step actions and publish in credible journals.The BPSR Reform Seminar has engendered learning, and for the first time, it was streamed live on the internet.

to be continued in part 4.

No comments:

Post a Comment