By Abubakar Rabilu Gombe
The Deputy Governor of Gombe State, Dr. Manassah Daniel Jatau, has urged civil servants to uphold integrity, accountability, loyalty and professionalism, saying the survival and effectiveness of public institutions depend on the values and commitment of those who serve in them.
Jatau made the call on Tuesday while declaring open a two-day in-house capacity-building workshop for staff of the Office of the Deputy Governor at the Education Resource Centre in Gombe.
Delivering a keynote address on the theme, “The Importance of Organizations and Personal Responsibility,” the deputy governor described organisations as more than places of employment, saying they shape character, create opportunities and give people a sense of purpose and professional identity.
He stressed that every public servant is an ambassador of the institution he or she serves, warning that any action capable of weakening public institutions ultimately undermines the future of both the organisation and its workforce.
“The success of your organisation and your personal success are inseparable. We must never become agents of the destruction of the institutions that provide us with purpose, livelihood and identity,” he said.
Jatau urged civil servants to embrace continuous learning, develop new competencies and take advantage of information and communication technology to remain efficient and relevant in an increasingly digital public service.
He expressed confidence that the workshop would equip participants with the knowledge and skills needed to improve their performance, strengthen teamwork and enhance service delivery.
Earlier, the Chairperson of the Gombe State Civil Service Commission, Hajiya Rabi Shuaibu Jimeta, said the workshop reflected the commitment of the Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya administration to building a competent, efficient and responsive civil service through sustained investment in human capital development.
She said the administration remained committed to institutional reforms, transparency, accountability and improved public service delivery, adding that a productive workforce is essential to achieving government’s development goals.
Jimeta urged participants to uphold the core values of the civil service, including discipline, integrity, professionalism, loyalty, confidentiality and innovation, and to apply the knowledge gained during the training to improve productivity and teamwork in their respective offices.
In a goodwill message delivered on behalf of the Head of Civil Service, Prof. Mu’azu Shehu, participants were reminded that effective public administration requires continuous training and retraining, noting that many of the competencies needed for career advancement are acquired through learning and practical experience.
The message also encouraged ministries, departments and agencies to institutionalise regular capacity-building programmes as a strategy for improving efficiency and service delivery across the public service.
One of the participants, Ishaq Abdulaziz, described the workshop as timely and impactful, noting that many members of staff were attending such a training for the first time in nearly 20 years.
He appealed to the state government to sustain similar programmes across ministries, departments and agencies, saying regular training would improve workers’ competence, boost morale and enhance service delivery to the people of Gombe State.
