PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA
AN ADDRESS DELIVERED BY
HIS EXCELLENCY, SENATOR ANYIM PIUS
GCON, PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE,
FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA
AT THE A FIRST ANNUAL CONFERENCE
OF DIRECTORS IN PUBLIC SERVICE
OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA
HELD AT NICON HILTON HOTEL. ABUJA
ON THE 19TH DAY OF DECEMBER. 2001
PROTOCOL
May I place on record my profound gratitude to the organizers of today’s event for the invitation extended to me. I recall that when I received the letter inviting me to this landmark event, I was surprised to note that this is the first time in the history of this country since independence that Directors of Federal Government ministries, parastatals and agencies will be meeting formally or informally.
To that effect, this inaugural Annual Conference of Directors in Public Service of Nigeria is indeed a significant milestone. Accordingly, I salute the commendable efforts of the Trustees and the Executive Secretary of African Center for Policy Studies for initiating this laudable conference, which undoubtedly will open new vistas in administrative and bureaucratic orientation.
I recollect that not too long ago, I had the singular privilege of declaring open a similar event, the First Annual Conference of Permanent Secretaries in state ministries. A particular question at that forum agitated the minds of the participants and that was “How permanent are the Permanent Secretaries?” Informed opinions were varied as well as divergent.
Nevertheless, my position was that our nascent democracy would thrive and stabilize if our public service is re-engineered and re-focussed for improved and prudent policy formulations and implementations. To achieve these, I believe, the permanent secretaries must cultivate the cooperation of their political boss – the various chief executives of their ministries and parastatals to guarantee the much desired democracy dividend for the citizenry, Against the foregoing, it is therefore salutary that today’s Directors’ conference is taking place in quick succession to the one held about two months ago for Permanent Secretaries.
My colleagues in the Senate in particular and the National Assembly in general consider these conferences important steps towards the re-birth, the re-design and reform of the public service to support the re-discovery and re-building of Nigeria into a virile nation.
The public service is key in articulating government policies and programmes. Rules and laws of the land regulate its framework. Thus, the theme of the conference “The New Revised Public Service Rules: The Unresolved Issues” is most instructive.
Undoubtedly, it is the desire of the government to do-away with those impediments and clogs that renders our public service ineffective. These impediments are corruption, dishonesty, insubordination, poor record keeping, falsification of records, nepotism, ethnic and tribal loyalty, etc., etc. These constraints indeed are antithetical to the civil service rules.
These impediments unfortunately erode public confidence as well as undermine good governance. It is against this background that President Olusegun Obasanjo recently observed; “A substantial number of public officers behave as if there are no rules and regulations that govern their conduct.
This attitude has of recent been compounded by the seemingly deliberate and sustained acts by the Heads of Government of military regimes to destroy all systems of proper conduct, our laws have always been very clear; public affairs must be conducted according to stipulated rules and procedures.”
Bearing in mind the comments of President Obasanjo, it is imperative that this conference will extensively discuss and deliberate on those symptoms of decay in our public service with the view of proffering sound remedies to improve the system.
May I assure you that the National Assembly will remain alive to its legislative and constitutional functions particularly with respect to law reforms. The National Assembly will also stoutly identify with the public service to ensure job security, personnel development and improved condition of service. Please feel free to always direct your inputs, suggestions and propositions on government policies to the appropriate committee of the Senate when the need arises.
My dear distinguished audience, the above highlighted issues and others I believe should form part of the issues to be exhaustively deliberated by this august gathering.
Ladies and gentlemen, once again, I sincerely thank you all for the honour of being invited to today’s occasion.
God bless you all.