According to Ajoonu, the adoption of the ‘Benin Declaration’ signifies a new era for public service in the South-South region.
By Adeyinke Adedipe
Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross Rivers, Edo and Delta states under the aegis of the BRACED states have finalised plans to adopt the key components in the ‘Benin Declaration’ to transform the civil/public service in the region.
The BRACED Commission, in partnership with the Edo State government, hosted a pivotal strategy retreat for all Heads of Service of the BRACED states at the John Odigie-Oyegun Public Service Academy from July 3rd to July 5th, 2024.
The Strategy Retreat, themed ‘Leadership in the Public Sector: Strengthening Public Institutions,’ brought together Heads of Service from all South-South States and at the end of the retreat, participants drafted and signed the ‘Benin Declaration,’ a comprehensive roadmap for public services in the BRACED States over the next three years.
In a document made available to journalists on Wednesday by the Director General of the John Odigie Oyegun Public Service, Imuwahen Ajoonu, the BRACED states’ heads of service have shown commitment to the transformative initiative agreed at the retreat.
The key elements in the document are, “Digital literacy and paperless operations: By December 31, 2027, which will ensure that the civil and public services in the region will be digitized, transitioning to paperless operations to enhance efficiency and transparency.
“Capacity Building: By December 31, 2026, 50 per cent of all civil and public servants in the BRACED States will have undergone basic skills training or attended specialized courses. This will be facilitated through the John Odigie-Oyegun Public Service Academy in Edo State, as well as other national and international centres.
“Staff Motivation: Efforts will be made to improve the work environment, offer competitive wages, and provide other incentives to boost staff retention and reduce anti-intellectualism in the services.
“Robust Online Presence: All public services in the region will have functional and robust websites by June 30, 2025, to enhance accessibility and service delivery.
“Collaboration and Peer Learning: The BRACED states will leverage each other’s strengths through collaboration to promote peer review and learning across the region.
“Performance Management: A robust performance management policy with clear key performance indicators will be created. This policy will include a comprehensive reward and consequence management system.
“Innovation Challenge: By December 31, 2027, an Innovation Challenge will be introduced across the region to promote critical thinking, problem-solving, teamwork, collaboration, and creativity among civil and public servants.
According to Ajoonu, the adoption of the ‘Benin Declaration’ signifies a new era for public service in the South-South region. The commitment to innovation, digital transformation, and capacity building sets a high standard for excellence in public service delivery.