…trains 73,448 Public Servants in one year amidst COVID-19
By Moses Adeniyi
The Lagos State Government in about two years period — May 2019 to March 2021 — has disbursed no less than N4.2 billion to pensioners in the state under the State’s Defined Benefits Scheme, otherwise known as ‘Pay As You Go’.
It would be recalled that the State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, had approved payment of 33 per cent increment for all State pensioners under the Defined Benefit Scheme and also paid the balance of the 25% rent allowance for officers on Grade Level 07 and above who retired between May 2000 and August 2004.
In a presentation on Wednesday, the State’s Commissioner for Establishments, Training and Pensions, Mrs. Ajibola Ponnle, during the ongoing Ministerial Briefing at the State Capital Ikeja, to commemorate the second year of the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu led Administration in office, mentioned that there are currently 15 approved Pension Funds Administrators (PFA) and seven approved Insurance Companies who render pension funds management and annuities services to retirees in the State.
The Commissioner added that as part of measures to enhance the living standards of pensioners in the state in line with the current Administration’s posture of inclusion, the Ministry is always interfacing with relevant stakeholders such as the Nigerian Union of Pensioners, the Association of Retired Heads of Service and the Permanent Secretaies, among others.
“Today, Lagos State is a trailblazer and pacesetter in pension matters in Nigeria having won awards as most pension compliant in the dispensation on several occasions.
“It would be recalled that the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) at its 11th Quadrennial National Delegates Conference recently honoured Governor Sanwo-Olu with the distinguished award of ‘Excellence and Greater Commitment to Pensioner’s Welfare.’ That means we are doing something right,” the Commissioner said.
Meanwhile, the total number of public servants trained by the Lagos State Government, through the State’s Ministry of Establishments, Training and Pensions, in 2020 was over 73,448.
The figure according to a report from the Ministry was far above the yearly average of 3,000 trained employees recorded in previous years.
The statistical breakdown showed that that 73 Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of government directly benefitted from the training initiatives which was over 30 generics and 17 job specific.
The breakdown further showed that a total of 3,101 officers were trained in 2020 across 98 MDAs and Parastatals under the virtual training initiative comprising of 52 Grade Level 17 officers, 272 GL 16, 1023 GL 15, 901 GL 14, 901 GL 14 and 851 GL 13.
According to a presentation by the Commissioner on Wednesday on the platform of the ongoing Ministerial Briefing at the State Capital Ikeja, the entire public service within the period under review, witnessed impressive capacity development despite the restrictions on physical gathering following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic last year.
The Commissioner disclosed that the Ministry leveraged on several online virtual platforms to embark on training programmes in a successive manner for the State’s employees.
She mentioned that the Ministry has commenced the review of the Public Service Rules (PSR) to ensure that conditions of Service in the State correspond with global standards.
She stressed that the State Government has already noted some areas in the PSR in dire need of review and work is also ongoing on the creation of Lagos State Schemes of Service to attract and retain talents that suit the peculiarities of the State as well as accommodate the changing curriculum of Tertiary Institutions.
As a way of encouraging personal growth and development among government employees, the Commissioner stated that 186 officers were granted admission for various courses at the Federal Training Centre within the period under review.
She further mentioned that Key Performance Indicator (KPI) was introduced to the civil service under the present Administration in the State.
According to her, 215 Officers across 20 MDAs have so far been trained successfully on the use of the KPI Framework since the first phase of the KPI framework Workshop began in February with six MDAs up till the second phase which commenced on 12th, April with 14 MDAs.
As part of additional innovations introduced to capacity development of public servants in the State, the Commissioner stated that the present Administration introduced the “EXCO SHARES” initiative as a platform where members of the State’s Executive Council share knowledge and expertise with public servants on diverse issues and topics of interest.
According to her, the Exco members that had already engaged the State’s workforce on the Exco Shares platform are: Mr Rabiu Olowu – Commissioner for Finance (IKIGAI – A reason for being), Mrs. Ajibola Ponle – Commissioner for Establishments, Training and Pensions, (Universal Cycles of Change), Mrs. Folashade Adefisayo – Commissioner for Education (Ladder of Inference), Mr. Tunbosun Alake – Special Adviser, Innovation (Values & National Development) and Mrs. Bolaji Dada Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, WAPA (Lessons from Ants).
“We also introduced Executive training, the Training was organised for Managing Directors, General Managers, Director Generals and Executive Secretaries of the State Parastatals and Agencies. It was a 10-day programme with focus on concept of leadership and strategic communication,” the Commissioner added.
On the Structured Training Programme, (STP), she reported that 3,755 Public Servants in 2020 participated in the STP, while in 2021 the STP was organised in collaboration with Public Service Staff Development Centre for 5,238 eligible Officers.
Speaking on the relationship between the State Government and the various Labour Unions, the Commissioner said that the Ministry recently organised a training workshop for Labour Leaders themed: “Strengthening Trade, Union Leadership, Mitigating the movement’s succession challenges and Fostering Sustainable Industrial Harmony for a More Prosperous Lagos State”
She added that in fulfilment of the pledge made during the Y2021 May Day Celebrations of workers, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu had last Friday presented official vehicles to the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) Chairmen in the State to assist them in running the Unions’ activities.