HOS CHALLENGES NEWLY INDUCTED PLANNING OFFICERS

HOS CHALLENGES NEWLY INDUCTED PLANNING OFFICERS

The Head of Service of the Federation, Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan has urged newly inducted Officers to Planning Cadre in the Service to leverage on the nine-point Agenda of President Muhammadu Buhari to enable them to discharge their duties effectively.

She gave the charge at the end of an induction course for newly converted Planning Officers in the service organized by her Office in conjunction with the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning and the Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research (NISER) on Friday, 19th November 2021, in Abuja.

According to Dr. Yemi-Esan, planning officers are to conceptualize, coordinate and track implementation of policies of the Federal Government.

She further said she was optimistic that with the rigorous training they had undergone, the graduands are now well placed to tackle numerous challenges caused by dearth of proper planning.

While applauding the participants for their dedication, hard work and commitment, she stated that "the journey is only beginning, this is because, the knowledge and skills garnered in the duration of the course is to be applied hands-on in designing and driving government strategic plans".

She also advised participants to demonstrate exceptional capacity in their irrespective MDAs towards the delivery of Ministerial mandates.

Dr. Yemi-Esan also urged the graduands to be actively involved in the implementation of the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan (FCSSIP) 2021-2025 and the National Development Plan for 2021-2025 recently approved by the Federal Executive Council.

She explained that the National Development Plan is structured along six clusters including: Economic Growth and Development, Infrastructure, Public Administration, Human Capital Development, Social Development and Regional Development.

The nine-point Agenda of the present administration, she added includes:  stabilizing the macro economy; achieving agricultural and food security; ensuring energy sufficiency in power and petroleum products; improving transportation and other infrastructure; driving Industrialization; improving health, education and productivity of Nigerians; enhancing social inclusion and poverty reduction; fighting corruption and enhancing governance; as well as improving security for all.

Dr. Yemi-Esan further revealed that the Office is working in collaboration with the Federal Civil Service Commission and the Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning towards the institutionalization of recruitment of young planning Officers in service.

She revealed that two thousand (2000) candidates applied for conversion into Planning Officer cadre, while six hundred and seventy-five office (675) candidates were shortlisted leading to the selection of two hundred and fifty-seven (257) candidates. However, One Hundred and eighty-Two (182) candidates will soon be presented to the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC) for conversion.

In his opening remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Career Management Office, OHCSF, Dr. Marcus Ogunbiyi said that the entire service is looking up to the planning officers for the development and implementation of planning activities in the service, adding that planning is important in every organization.

While saying that there is high demand for planning officers, Dr. Ogunbiyi also revealed that the Office is working on the next batch of applications for Planning Officers.

In his remarks at the occasion, the Chairman, Federal Civil Service Commission, Dr. Turkur Ingawa advised the graduands to be disciplined in discharging their duties.

He also solicited for more waivers from the OHCSF to enable the Commission to employ more officers into the Federal Civil Service.

The Director-General, Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research (NISER), Dr. Folarin, Gbadebo Smith said that the introduction of the Planning Officers’ cadre into the service is a great innovation that will set the country on the right track in the future.

In her remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Budget and National Planning, Mrs Olusola Idowu called for professionalization of the Planning cadre as obtained in Legal and other cadres in the service for effective discharge of its mandates.

Ten (10) of the outstanding graduands received a laptop each.

 

 

AbdulGaniyu Aminu

Director, Communications

19th, November, 2021