Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC), Prof. Tunji Olaopa, has urged retired bureaucrats across the country to unite and collaborate with the serving public service officers to restore the glory of civil service.
The seasoned bureaucrat spoke during the commencement of his courtesy calls on establishment gurus across the country, kick-starting with Chief F. O. Williams, retired federal Permanent Secretary, and Mr. Paul Ebegbuna, retired Director of Establishment and Pensions in the Presidency on Sunday, in Abuja.
Olaopa described the visit as targeted at kick-starting an ‘inter-generational conversation with iconic bureaucrats’ and ancestors in the civil service.
Disclosing how the experiences of the retired bureaucrats could be harnessed for a virile civil service, Olaopa said, “The plan, going forward, is to get these (old bureaucrats) into some technical conversations and study teams, as part of a process of institutional rediscovery. They, of course, will be matched with new-age management experts in the cutting edge of new thinking and the dynamics of the new world of work as it is being shaped by technology, information, and knowledge as well as the fourth and fifth industrial revolutions’ multiple and complex change drivers.”
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Stressing the objective of the visit, Olaopa said, “It is basically to revive the old mission that I set for myself as an expert governance cum institutional administrator-leader and researcher, to honour our old bosses and expert practitioners who held the forte at critical defining periods in our career growth as a bureaucrat in the Federal Civil Service.”
Responding, Chief F.O Williams, retired Permanent Secretary, said the civil service is the engine room of the government adding that a well-structured training program can equip civil servants with the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively carry out their duties.
“Without proper induction and training, civil servants may struggle to understand their roles and responsibilities, leading to inefficiencies and compromises in their work. With the comprehensive handbook and resources already available, it can be a valuable tool in ensuring that civil servants have access to the information they need to excel in their roles.”
On his part, PA Paul Egbebuna stressed the imperative need for institutional rediscovery and the need for future reforms adding that it’s essential for progress when the retired bureaucrats focus on what they can give rather than what they can get from the system.