The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transportation, Dr Magdalene Ajani, has urged staff of the ministry to acquire e–working skills as official communication will soon be digitised.
Ajani, in a statement by Director, Press and Public Relations of the ministry, Eric Ojiekwe, made the call at the 2021 edition of the Joint Union Negotiating Council’s week in Abuja.
She enjoined the staff to embrace the computer age as it had not only come to stay, but provided innovative ways of doing things that increased productivity.
“So next year, we will do a lot of e – working. We are going to go digital. There will be computers on every table or at least in every office,” she said.
The Permanent Secretary however expressed disappointment that no staff participated in the innovative challenge organised by Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, where successful participants went home with mouth-watering prices.
According to her, innovation does not necessarily only refer to scientific inventions but can be our operational challenges and proposed solutions on how to overcome them.
In his address, Chairman of the Joint Union Negotiating Council, Femi Kolawole, lauded the Management Team of the ministry for its unalloyed support to the union and the workforce.
While delivering a lecture on “Importance of Infrastructure in Economic Development” Dr Danjuma Ismaila, the Director, Training, Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology (NITT) said transportation infrastructure and economic development were intertwined.
According to Ismaila, a robust transport system is catalyst to economic growth and development.
He said that throughout history, major milestones in transportation infrastructure had stimulated progress and extensively improved the quality of life of the people.
He therefore said that as a driver, transportation needed to be improved for other sectors to improve.
The highlight of the occasion was the presentation of awards for excellence to the Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, the Minister of State for Transportation, Sen. Gbemisola Saraki and the Permanent Secretary.
Some directors, who will be leaving the service in or by end of 2022 were recognised for meritorious service to the nation.
Similarly, athletes who were first in the just-concluded Federation of Public Service Games in Ilorin, Kwara State were recognised and appreciated.