Bauchi Trains Top Civil Servants To Boost Governance Efficiency

Bauchi State government has commenced a five-day capacity-building workshop for senior officers in its civil service as part of efforts to enhance effective governance.

The training organised by the Office of the Head of Civil Service, is targeted at permanent secretaries, their equivalents, and directors of Administration and Human Resources. It focuses on core administrative functions such as the preparation of Executive Council memoranda, minutes writing, speech drafting, and report writing.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, held at the International Conference Centre, Bauchi the state governor, Bala Mohammed, said the initiative reflects his administration’s strong commitment to strengthening the civil service as a key driver of governance and development.

The governor was represented by his deputy, Mohammed Auwal Jatau, and described the civil service as the backbone of government, noting that no meaningful development can be achieved without a competent, disciplined, and forward-looking workforce.

The governor highlighted his administration’s sustained investment in civil service reforms and staff development since 2019, aimed at improving productivity and service delivery.

“Since the inception of this administration, we have recorded significant progress in repositioning the Civil Service through continuous investment in capacity-building programmes across all cadres,” he said.

He added that the government has also made notable strides in the digitalisation of administrative processes, improving efficiency, transparency, and overall service delivery.

According to him, efforts are ongoing to modernise systems and equip ministries, departments, and agencies with the tools required to meet evolving governance demands.

Governor Bala also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to the welfare of civil servants, citing the prompt payment of salaries and emoluments as a key priority.

He noted that the implementation of the new N70,000 national minimum wage, alongside recent salary adjustments for healthcare workers, has boosted morale and productivity within the service.

He urged participants to take advantage of the training, emphasising that the quality of government decisions depends largely on the professionalism and accuracy of official documentation.

“The clarity and quality of documents presented at the highest level of government are critical. I encourage you to use this opportunity to sharpen your skills and adopt best practices that will enhance your output,” he said.

In his welcome address, the State Head of Civil Service, Barrister Mohammed Sani Umar, described the workshop as historic, noting that it is the first of its kind in over 20 years for officers at that level.

He said the initiative underscores the administration’s renewed commitment to repositioning the civil service as a dynamic, efficient, and result-oriented institution.

Umar commended Governor Bala Mohammed for his support and leadership in driving reforms, noting that several initiatives have been introduced to strengthen institutional capacity and improve service delivery.

He highlighted ongoing efforts in staff development through regular training programmes and seminars, emphasising that human capital development remains central to an effective public service.

The Head of Service also pointed to progress in the digitalisation of administrative processes, which has improved record-keeping, communication, and workflow management across government institutions.

He further noted the introduction of a transparent, merit-based online recruitment system, designed to enhance fairness and ensure that qualified individuals are recruited into the civil service.

According to him, the focus of the workshop on essential administrative skills is deliberate, as gaps in these areas have affected the quality of official communication and decision-making.

“This programme is designed to address those gaps, refresh existing knowledge, and equip participants with modern techniques and best practices,” he said.

Umar urged participants to engage actively with resource persons and apply the knowledge gained to improve service delivery in their respective offices.

He also commended the organizing committee and facilitators for their contributions to the success of the workshop.

“As we move forward, this workshop should serve as a call to greater professionalism and responsibility. Together, we can build a Civil Service that is efficient, innovative, and responsive to the needs of our people,” he added.