Don’t politicize civil service in Plateau - Lalong
Plateau State Governor, Simon Bako Lalong has urged the state’s civil servants to keep politics out of the civil service, warning that those found sabotaging the government’s activities by their involvement in political matters would be fired.
The Governor gave the warning during the swearing in of the President of the state’s Customary Court of Appeal, Justice Blessing Lyop Dalyop and 11 Permanent Secretaries at the New Government House Rayfield in Jos, the state capital.
He congratulated the appointees, saying that the state needs competent, honest and loyal staff, who would support his administration to implement its vision and programmes.
"Let me use this opportunity to remind civil servants of the need to be loyal to the Government and avoid all acts that are inimical to the smooth running of the affairs of the state.
"The civil service rules are very clear on responsibilities, privileges and expectations from all civil servants. You should endeavour to conduct yourselves within the norms of the service and avoid being used by politicians to disrupt the smooth running of government business. We will not spare those who run contrary to the rules," he said.
He charged the permanent secretaries to show leadership driven by excellence, capacity, discipline, fairness and honesty even as he stressed that since they were assuming the sensitive positions at a challenging time, they would be required to demonstrate innovation, creativity and resource management in the governance architecture of the state.
Noting that the time for laxity, bureaucratic bottlenecks and sabotage were over, the Governor reminded them that the positions they occupied were very important because his rescue administration was gradually winding down and there was a lot to be done between now and May next year.
He said: “This is the time for action and performance because we are determined to complete on-going projects and programmes in line with our promise to leave Plateau better than we met it.”
He commended the Head of Civil Service, who, in collaboration with the state’s Information Communication Technology Development Agency, ensured the successful conduct of the ICT-based professional aptitude examination for the newly appointed permanent secretaries.
The Governor said he had also directed the Head of Service to ensure that all civil servants were fully trained in the use of ICT tools for all the government business because since the state joined the Open Government Initiative (OGP), it has continued to receive local and international accolades for her prudence, transparency and all-inclusive approach to governance.
He urged the President of the Customary Court of Appeal to build on the legacies of her predecessors, who did their best to ensure the dispensation of justice to the citizens. He also charged her to take the state’s Customary Courts to the next level by identifying and tackling challenges that impede the smooth justice administration.
Lalong also cautioned the citizens against making unnecessary demands on the appointees through frivolous pressures that would distract them and push them to corrupt practices and other unwholesome conducts.
President of the Customary Court of Appeal, Justice Dalyop on behalf of the appointees assured the Governor that they would serve with honesty and diligence.