From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja

The Kogi State Government has organised capacity building training and conducted promotion examinations for 60 shortlisted most senior directors in the state’s Civil Service to be appointed as Permanent Secretaries.

The Kogi State Head of Civil Service (HoS), Elijah Evinemi disclosed this while addressing newsmen at the examination centre at Kogi State Polytechnic Lokoja.

Evinemi appreciated the State Governor, Ahmed Ododo for his support for the exercise in ensuring a fair, transparent and credible process.

He stressed that the initiative was part of the unwavering commitment of the governor to promote quality service delivery and ensure Civil Service reform for optima productivity.

The HoS said 60 most senior directors in the state’s civil service from 12 local government areas, were shortlisted to write the examination for the existing 12 vacant positions of permanent secretaries.

According to Evinemi, five most senior directors, each from 12 local government areas in Kogi with vacancies, were shortlisted for training and exams to ensure fairness and transparency.

The local government areas are: Okene I & 2, Okehi, Kabba-Bunu and Ogorimagongo, Dekina Biraidu, Olamaboro, Mopamuro, Bassa, Ajaokuta, Ankpa I and Yagba East.

Evinemi disclosed that the State Government had engaged the services of the Public Service Institute of Nigeria (PSIN) to conduct a pivotal training and examination exercise for eligible directors to ensure fairness and transparency.

Evinemi added that the selected directors had received two-day lectures and training to prepare them for the exam as well as build their capacity for quality service delivery.

The HoS emphasised that the 12 directors would be finally appointed as the permanent secretaries would be selected based on merit.

He advised the participants to take advantage of the training program to add values to themselves and give their best to the state civil service.

Evinemi commended the effort of PSIN management for a well-structured training process with highly experienced resource persons.

He noted that the PSIN had in the past conducted similar training and exams that produced many permanent secretaries in the state with excellent performances.

The Director of Studies and Learning, PSIN, Abuja, Dr Tunde Adeniran expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the institute’s previous conduct of training and exams in the state.

Adeniran noted that PSIN remained one of the foremost management development institutes in Nigeria that develop the capacity of public servants.

Adeniran commended the Kogi Government for the initiative and called for its sustenance.

He, however advised the participants to get themselves acquainted with the rules and regulations governing their work

Some of the participants: Ademu Seidu, James Oyewole, and Taiye Obanawu, from Dekina, Ogoimagongo and Kabba-Bunu respectively, commended the state government for ensuring a credible and transparent exercise.

According to them, even though they were eventually appointed as permanent secretaries or not, the training had added value to them and built their capacities for quality service delivery.