Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria Emphasizes Need for Training and Retraining of Members.
The Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, Bayelsa State Branch has stressed the need for effective communication and career progression in the Public Service.
The Association in its yearly membership seminar with the theme “Career Progression and Effective Communication Skills in the public service” emphasized the need for civil servants to be acquainted with effective communication skills in their various areas of specialization.
In a lecture delivered by Dr Hamilton Ekeke, Director of Industrial Relations, Office of the Head of Service and Comrade Julius Laye, Chairman Association of Senior Civil Servants who doubles as chairman Trade Union Congress (TUC), Bayelsa State Council outlined the importance of communication and career progression.
Dr. Hamilton Ekeke in his lecture on ‘career progression’ said lack of proper enlightenment has been playing a negative role on civil servants, particularly administrative officers, urging them to get a copy of the new public civil service rule and study it.
Dr Hamilton noted that the upward movement of public servants from one level to another can be achieved through promotion, advancement and conversion, stating that the dynamics is inherent in the movement of staff on strata within the pathway.
According to him, the process of reaching the height of working life was incomplete without basic educational qualification and years on the job, confirmation of appointment, professional qualification, vacancy and taking opportunities seriously.
He explained that civil servants’ progression is hindered by indiscipline, Withholding Factor, Bar Regime, Unprofessionalism, Lack of knowledge and Lack of adequate understanding, pointing out that training and retraining of staff also have a way of actualizing proper progression.
Also, Comr Julius Laye in his lecture highlighted the use of effective communication skills in the public service, saying that one of the biggest problems of civil servants is ineffective communication and over reliance on stories from the grapevine.
Comr Julius asserted that lack of communication skills was the reason behind civil servants continuous spreading of unverified news to incite people against Organised Labour especially on social media describing communication as a key component in an organization.
The TUC boss explained that effective communication is a transaction of ideas, directory, command or guide into oral or written words, or action on the path of the communicator in such a way that the receiver gets same message and react in manner envisaged by the communicator.
He opined that one of the keys to success in the service was growth by learning new things because a handful of those who come into the service do not have adequate knowledge of the rules of the service.
In separate goodwill messages from the Head of Service, Barr.Biobelemoye Charles-Onyeama, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Establishment, Training, and Pensions Bureau, Mr. Yala Alagoa; the State Auditor General, Comr Tari Dounana, and State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Barnabas Simon, represented by the Secretary, Comr John Angese, commended the Association for its efforts at building the capacities of members.
They urged all the participants at the seminar to absorb the lectures, put the lessons into practice and share the knowledge with their colleagues.
The State Secretary of the Association, Comr. Dr. Ebi Sikpi thanked all participants for making themselves available at the seminar.
