The Lagos State Government is driving a major reform programme that will radically reshape the way civil servants are trained and developed and create a “new work culture”.
The goal is to support the Federal Government ’s efforts to expose the nation ’s workforce to skills needed to drive the economy of the future. These include a government-wide, holistic approach to civil servant training and career development. It also includes a regular capacity building plan for all departments with the aim of ensuring efficient service delivery; the setting of benchmarks to encourage and monitor civil servants’ development; and a focus on technology-based learning.
The Director-General, Office of Transformation, Creativity and Innovation (OTCI), Toyin Anjous-Ademuyiwa, said the government’s goal is to continuously build capacity, update the talent pool and provide equal opportunities for the personal and professional growth of officials at all levels.
To this end, she urged public servants in Lagos State government agencies to adhere to job description and target setting in ensuring effective and efficient performance within Government organisation.
The Director-General stated this in Alausa at the first phase of a two-day programme on Job Description and Target Setting organised by the OTCI for Human Resource Leaders and Heads of Departments in various Government Agencies, adding that job description serves as the foundation for defining roles, responsivities and expectation for employees in the public sector.
She noted that it provides clarity and guardians on the scope of work, required skills, qualifications and reporting relationships.
“A well-defined job description helps employees understand their role and enable them to align their efforts with the organisation’s goals and objectives.
“In Public Service where accountability and transparency are of utmost importance, job description becomes even more critical, it helps to prevent role ambiguity and ensure that employees understand their specific duties and responsibilities,” she reiterated.
Anjous-Ademuyiwa said that target setting in public service should be “SMART” – Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound, saying it is crucial to strike a balance between setting ambitious target and considering the challenging nature of public sector work.
In her words, “SMART means Specific target provides clear direction, while measurable target allows for objective evaluation. Achievable target ensures that they are within the reach and motivate employees to strive for excellence, Relevant target are aligned with the organisation’s mission and strategic priorities. Lastly time-bound targets set deadline and create a sense of urgency.”
She, however, emphasised that clear and well-defined job description provide employees with a sense of purpose and direction, while target setting enable organisations to measure their performance and deliver quality public service.
“It is through these practices that government agencies can effectively serve the public, promote accountability and foster a culture of continuous improvement,” she concluded.
The programme featured quintessential facilitators from the State Public Service. Including Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Establishment and Training, Mrs Olubusola Abidakun, Deputy Director, Admin and Human Resource, Health District IV, Mrs Titilayo Seriki, Head of Reforms Department, OTCI, Mr Samuel Okedara that dealt with different topics on the concept of job description such as, Job description /KPIs template in contemporary Lagos State Public Service, SPADEV Sensitisation, and knowledge on job responsibilities and target setting.
