Oyo HOS urges secretariat secretaries on discreet management of information … says govt has trained over 3,500 civil servants in two years
By Ogundele Olanrewaju
The Head of Service of Oyo State, Alhaja Ololade Agboola, on Thursday, urged the secretaries in the civil service to adequately protect government properties and be discreet in concealing confidential and sensitive information while discharging duties in their different offices.
Agboola, who gave the admonition during the closing ceremony of the 6th months programme organised for the secretariat assistants (Batch 5), at the Simeon Adebo Staff Development centre, Secretariat, Ibadan, enjoined the civil servants, most especially the Secretaries to see themselves as very important personality (VIPs) in the service.
The Head of Service, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Service Matter, Alhaji Fatai Oladeinde, also tasked participants at the training to always stringently abide by the rules and regulations of the service, adding that they must develop themselves to be compliant in the aspect of information technology.
She said: “The programme started in the year 2012 in the office of the Head of Service. And the governor then approved that immediately you finish, you should advance to level 10, which I think you have been enjoying since then. I can see that you are lucky here because of the additional thing that is added to the programme.
“This programme will make you good secretaries but it calls for more responsibilities. So, we must commend the governor. Apart from the payment of our salary and all sort of things that are being done, another most important thing that he is doing that we don’t know is that you are being given free hand to operate. With that, our job is being secure either directly or indirectly. Secure in the sense that there is no intimidation.
“I want to appreciate the governor for giving us the leverage, which I think is a luck that we are having for now and I pray that it will not erode us.”
The participants, during the course of their training also learnt some entrepreneurial skills on the production of liquid soap, toilet cleaner, body perfume, air freshener, antiseptic soap and Izal.
The Commissioner for training and establishment, Alhaji Siju Lawal, speaking at the event, explained that the objective of the Course was to give room for advancement and promotions on the job, which will enable the officers to get their promotions as and when due.
The commissioner, who spoke through the Permanent secretary, Ministry of Establishments and Training, Mr. Adeyanju . B. A. commended the state government, saying that over 3,500 civil servants have been trained since the inception of Engineer ‘Seyi Makinde’s administration.
He equally admonished the participants to live up to expectations by applying the vital skills of office practice and procedures, computer operating skills, business tactics, etc learnt in the course of the programme into practical use in your job situations, adding that “it is by so doing that you will be able to add value to the system.”
He also noted that the present administration is ever committed to improving the standard of living of its workforce and empowering them to compete favourably with their counterparts in other sectors knowing fully well that a healthy and happy workforce is a productive and wealthy workforce.
“I have no doubt that you will live up to expectation because you have been tutored on how you can remain relevant in your chosen field and much more, seeing the entrepreneurial skills you have possessed in the course of the programme. This is indeed impressive feedback as clearly, you are returning to your various places of assignment to deliver with improved capacity,” Lawal stated.
Earlier in her welcome address, the Director, Management Secretarial Computer and Business Studies, Mrs S.O Okedum, stated that within the 6-month period of their training, the participants have acquired special skills for the smooth discharge of your duties as well as various entrepreneurial skills.
While saying that the government is committed to the welfare of civil/public servants in that state, she said: “This is the 11th set of its kind with 54 participants and I am glad to inform you that preparations are underway for another batch of Secretarial Assistants to be invited to enjoy this same privilege hence, you can safely inform those who are anxiously itching to come on board.”
She, however, urged the participants to make use of the knowledge acquired during the training in their various places of work.
