Lagos targets increase in staff training fund by 2017

L-R: CEO, Human Capital Management & Solutions Limited, Tetsoma Onwuka; Commissioner for Establishments, Training and Pensions, Dr. Akintola Benson; Director, Training in the ministry, Aruna Ayodeji and the Director, Public Affairs, Abisola Kasali during the training on Thursday.

The Lagos State Government says it is planning to inject more fund for staff training and development by next year.

Commissioner for Establishments, Training and Pensions, Dr. Akintola Benson said this on Thursday at a Leadership and Change Management Workshop for Directors in the State Public Service held at the Golden Tulip Hotel, FESTAC, Lagos, Southwest Nigeria.

According to Benson, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode approved N1 billion for staff training this year, which he described as a landmark in the state.

He said in 2015, the sum of N149 million was approved for training, but that the governor increased it to N1 billion this year, adding that by next year, the government was looking at the possibility of increasing the training fund.

The commissioner disclosed that in recent time, 31 consultants had been engaged in the training of staff, as the government was bent on improving the efficiency of civil servants to deliver qualitative service to the public.

Benson stated that building a public service that is well structured, organized and staffed with highly motivated officers with relevant skills, knowledge and attitude required training and retraining.

“The state government’s funding for training was increased significantly; a learning and development template was also adopted based on knowledge-gap identification and need to bridge the identified gaps.

“We intend to continually sponsor more staff to local and international seminars, workshops and conferences to acquire the necessary cutting edge and best practices experience needed towards a functional proactive and secured megacity,” he said.

Benson said the workshop was aimed at moving public service from the hitherto informing mode of operation to consultative, with the ultimate aim of making the public service more involving, collaborating and public empowering.

Commissioner for Establishments, Training and Pensions, Dr. Akintola Benson (2nd left, sitting), with other top Lagos government staff in group picture during the training.

He said being mindful of the fact that the mindset of the workforce was key to service delivery, the present administration was highly committed to developing leadership for creativity and innovation through building, leading and sustenance of a performing team of which the civil servants were the critical mass.

The commissioner urged the trainees to disseminate what they had learnt during the workshop to their superior and subordinates for excellent service delivery.

Permanent Secretary, Office of Establishment and Training, Folasade Ogunnaike, who was represented by the Director, Training in the ministry, Aruna Ayodeji said the training was meant to upscale the knowledge, skills and attitude of civil servants to help them deliver qualitative service to Lagosians, charging them to make better use of the opportunity afforded by the training.