Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola yesterday reaffirmed his administration's commitment to improve the skills and competencies of the120, 000 civil servants in the state. This was even as the Russian Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Nickolay Udovicheuko, expressed his country's readiness to strengthen the level of bilateral relations and agreement with Nigerian especially with the Lagos State Government.
Fashola made the pledge while signing into law a bill for re-establishing the Lagos State Public Service Staff Development Centre (PSSDC) in Ikeja. He said government would continue to pursue workers' development strategies, noting that a well-trained and motivated civil service was central to the realisation of the state's developmental goals.
Explaining the rationale for the enactment of the PSSDC law, Fashola said the law was to restructure the centre and strengthen its capacity to offer qualitative trainings to workers. He said: "This law reflects the value that we place on the development of human capital in the state.
"It reinforces our team work ethos that it is only a team that wins and not individuals. "It reinforces our belief in an action government and strong institutions managed by workers with the right training and right attitude. "So, we expect that a re-structured and re-energised staff development centre will take us nearer those goals.
This is our own school of governance.'' Commenting on the new law earlier, the state Attorney- General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ade Ipaye, said the new law was came into being following the recent development.
He said the centre was established in 1994, but new demands had necessitated its restructuring. Ipaye added that with the new law, the centre would now have a Registrar, who will serve as Secretary to the Governing Council while still retaining the powers of the Director- General to perform executive functions.
The commissioner added that the new law attempted to change the centre's structure with a view to strengthening its operations The new law, which changes membership of the centre's Governing Council from the previous 17 to nine, would also empower the centre to run institutes and provide specialised trainings for worker in partnership with the private sector.
Meanwhile, the Russian Ambassador said during a visit to Fashola that the need for stronger ties with Nigeria, especially Lagos State, was informed by its strategic position. The ambassador explained that some of the areas in which the agreement would be strengthened include education, economy and cultural exchange.
National Mirror
That is very good to know Mr Lagos State Governor. Such things will surely lead to development and I'm sure that's what he stands for!