Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, has urged permanent secretaries in the state to uphold professionalism and strengthen the bureaucracy to improve service delivery.
Diri gave the charge in Yenagoa through his deputy, Peter Akpe, who represented him at the opening of a three-day executive training workshop for permanent secretaries.
The state government organised the workshop in collaboration with the Nigeria Institute of Management (Chartered) under the theme, “Strategic Leadership and Public-Sector Governance for Effective Service Delivery.”
The governor said the public service remained central to the effective implementation of government policies, describing permanent secretaries as a crucial link between political office holders and the civil service.
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He said a well-functioning bureaucracy should promote efficiency, accountability, fairness, proper documentation and continuity in government.
Diri also urged the permanent secretaries to provide professional advice to political leaders while maintaining effective working relationships with directors and other technical personnel within their ministries.
He stressed the importance of continuous professional development, citing the works of German sociologist and political economist Max Weber on bureaucracy and management.
According to the governor, public servants who fail to acquire new knowledge and adapt their skills could struggle to remain relevant in a rapidly changing administrative environment.
He further advised senior government officials against working in isolation, urging permanent secretaries and commissioners to ensure that directors and other members of staff participate in the administration and implementation of government policies.
Speaking earlier, the Head of Service, Ebiye Wisdom Sawyer, said the training was timely, given growing demands from citizens for more responsive, transparent and efficient public institutions.
Sawyer described permanent secretaries as key players in the government’s administrative structure, saying they were responsible for translating policies into action, strengthening institutions and maintaining professional standards.
He also called for greater adoption of digital technology across ministries to improve administrative procedures, records management, data handling and citizens’ access to government services.
The Chairman of the Bayelsa State Civil Service Commission, Perekiye Buruboyefe, urged the participants to remain receptive to new ideas and make the most of the training.
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In his goodwill message, the Chairman of the Nigeria Institute of Management (Chartered), Sani Abubakar, reaffirmed the institute’s commitment to the programme and pledged its continued support for efforts to strengthen administrative capacity in Bayelsa State.
The state Director of the Code of Conduct Bureau, Jonathan Asigo, said the training would also expose the participants to ethical principles guiding the conduct of public officers.
Asigo said a better understanding of those principles would help the permanent secretaries discharge their responsibilities more effectively.
In his vote of thanks, the Chairman of the Permanent Secretaries Forum, Zuoboemi Agadah, said strengthening leadership capacity within the civil service would have a wider impact on the workforce and ultimately improve service delivery.
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The event was attended by the Secretary to the State Government, Nimibofa Ayawei; Commissioner for Information, Orientation and Strategy, Ebiuwou Koku-Obiyai; Commissioner for Public Utilities, Karin Kumoko; Deputy Chief of Staff, Deputy Governor’s Office, Gowon Toruyouyei, and other senior government officials.
