In keeping to his promise to carry out consummate reviews in all sectors of the Benue economy, Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State since assumption of office has hit the ground running, having been abreast with the enormous contributions of the State Civil Service to the overall Benue‘s socioeconomic development.
Considering the above, the governor has taken masterful and efficacious steps to re-awaken the morale of the Benue Civil Servants, which will eventually boost service delivery, culminating into socioeconomic buoyancy.
As one who has the continuous burning desire to fix the broken pieces he inherited, the Governor‘s first step was to conduct ministerial briefings. This was to enable him come to terms with what was needed or required of him as a leader was for him to structure a briefing where all ministries, parastatals and agencies were invited at different periods to brief him. At the exercise that he was practically present, the governor interacted with permanent secretaries and heads of all government establishments and garnered the requisite data he needed to begin his reforms.
Prompt payment of salaries. Realizing how Benue workers had endured tortures times as a result of non-payment of salaries during the out gone administration, the governor made it his focal obligation to implement immediately prompt payment of salaries, to revive and resettle them to offer the desired services to his administration and to the Benue people. No wonder, everyone in Benue now understands what the 25th of every month means. Others call it “Alia‘s Day” while some call it “Salary Day”.
Impromptu/Spontaneous visits to ministries, parastatals and agencies. To have first-hand knowledge of the infrastructural issues, and as well check truancy and indolence in the service, the governor also made it a policy of embarking on unannounced visits to ministries, parastatals and agencies. This singular move has seen civil servants get back to their duty posts in time and also leave office at the approved time. The governor also used this opportunity to unofficially interact with workers of all classes to arm himself for the needed innovations he has been introducing.
Normalization of Promotion. Recall that shortly after taking over the baton of leadership in the state, governor Alia ordered all civil Servants to revert to their formal ranks and positions. This was to enable him to assess the discrepancies in promotions and appointments as against the laid down civil service rules. Presently, the government is on the verge of correcting all the irregularities to ensure that only deserving workers are promoted and appointed. The era of junior staff being promoted above their seniors in the service was over. The governor is leaving no stone turned to ensure that the sanity which hitherto distinguished the civil service returns for optimal productivity.
Digitization of Civil Service Operations. Governor Hyacinth Alia is also looking at taking the workings and operations of Benue civil service to the digital stage, where manual handling of records will be marginally reduced. This will also include digital access cards that will be used as permit cards for when a staff comes to work and closes. The move will remove the use of manual Time Book and also check impersonation.
General Code of Conduct. Before now, civil servants were known for their dignity, which was defined by their discipline and mode of dressing. In these reforms, Governor Alia intends to restore all the lost glory hitherto associated with the civil service for the interest of the civil servants and the entire Benue State.
Already, Benue State Secretariat and the Government House have been connected to the 330kva. Power is now available at least 18hrs before alternative sources are explored.
Civil servants are now enjoying air conditioners and working on computer systems in their offices. All these gestures are aimed to create comfort to motivate the workforce for optimal service delivery.
What every Benue man needs to do now is to be supportive of governor Alia‘s innovations in all sectors of the Benue economy, so that every deserving Benue indigene will reap the true dividends of democracy as against the norm of a selected few.
– Sir Kula is the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Benue State
