Ambode: Efficient Public Service Key to Smart-City Vision

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode at the weekend said efficient public service and positive attitude to work is crucial to realising the smart –city dream of the state government.

Ambode, thus, charged civil servants in the state public service to continue to make difference in the area of mentoring upcoming generation of civil servants to imbibe the timeless values of hard work, discipline, professionalism and high standard of work ethics in the state.

He made the remark at the 2018 Long Service Merit Award, thereby calling on the civil servants “to always reflect on the past, the present and make a projection for the future of the service so as to make the implementation of government policies for development easily possible.”

Ambode, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Dr. Oluranti Adebule, noted that these values were essential ingredients that would determine the level of productivity and quality service delivery required for a Smart- City.

He disclosed that 889 civil servants were recognised and rewarded for their outstanding contributions to the growth of the public service.

He said the 889 recipients of the meritorious service awards “have not only spent reasonable number of years to uphold the ethics of the service, but have equally demonstrated high sense of responsibility, commitment and dedication to the culture of hard work and extreme loyalty to the service.”

He, therefore, congratulated all the awardees of this year’s long service award, noting that the recognition “is a testament to your meritorious service which in a very significant way, has contributed to the progressive improvements in public service delivery over the years.”

He said noted that from the inception, his administration recognised the importance of efficient public service in realising the smart-city dream of the state government.

On this note, he said the state government continued “to build capacity of the civil servants and improve their welfare to increase their productivity and enable them to add more value to the service.

‘’It is instructive to note that within the context of bringing about a continuous improvement in the capacity of public servants to diligently discharge their expected responsibilities, staff welfare and well- being receive attention of our administration.

“This is evident in various welfare programmes that are meant to enhance the socio- economic conditions of workers and our administration will continue to make provision for facilities that will make the work environment to be safe and more conducive’’ Ambode pledged

Ambode the state governments “have taken a proactive measure that has distinguished the Lagos state Public Service from other ones in the country with the application of Information Communication Technology (ICT) in every aspect of the service activities.

“The effort has helped to bring about a more efficient, effective and productive public service that is focused, relevant and globally competitive, charging civil servants to continue to strive for excellence in the overall interest of the public.

In her address, Lagos State Head of Service, Mrs. Folashade Adesoye explained the long service merit award policy of the state government, noting that it was aimed at recognising and rewarding diligent, committed and loyal public servants in the state.

He explained that the periodic exercise would encourage Awardees to do more while other public servants would be motivated to be more committed in the discharge of their duties.

She added that the programme provided an opportunity to celebrate public servants who have served the state public service conscientiously in the last thirty years.