FCSC Chair Seeks Mentorship in Public Service, Harps on Youth Participation

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

The Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC), Prof. Tunji Olaopa yesterday harped on the need to ensure youth participation in public service as part of the current inter-generational conversation.

The former  permanent secretary and professor of public administration,  spoke when the Minister of Youths and Development, Dr Jamila Ibrahim, visited him in his office, a statement from the commission said.

According to Olaopa, professionalism in the civil service must start with the greater weight given to authority of knowledge and expertise over and above the known conventional considerations.

Stressing that this will depend on how far Nigeria goes to restore competency-based practices, he stated that the commission was determined to align all its national values such as the federal character policy and other core elements of Nigeria’s diversity with the merit system.

“The overarching goal is to build a new generation of leaders and public managers within framework of a value-based civil service that is people-focused, professional, technology-enabled, entrepreneurial and accountable to deliver quality service to the Nigerian people as a social compact,” he added.

He said the commission plans to work with the National Orientation Agency (NOA), the Federal Ministry of Education, National Universities Commission (NUC) and some agencies under the ministry, to develop an inter-agency public service orientation mentoring programme.

“It is evident that what has been missing, among a few other factors in the Nigerian leadership equation, is effective mentoring, especially in preparation for public service and its roles.

“Effective mentorship affects and influences the processes and outcomes in leadership, including talent management, public service values and orientation, bureaucratic corruption, succession planning and performance management.

“Mentoring produces leaders that ensure continuity and maintain the culture and values of the institution because such leaders have not only been taught but also groomed and nurtured. They climb on the shoulders of giants and therefore are far more effective and visionary in administration. Mentorship role is ‘earned’ by reputation and integrity of purpose not just by age and status in society,” he added.

According to him, the Nigerian youth is caught in-between the crisis of leadership development and the failure of mentorship.

“A system without mentors; the engine that the younger generation looks up to for inspiration and boost, will struggle with growth, efficiency and development.

“There seems to be a general crisis of the poverty of spirits among the older generation in the country. It is a formidable challenge.

“There is a dearth of men and women of integrity in the country, making it difficult to have mentors who will be looked upon as role models and agents that will motivate, energise and mobilise the younger generation as the needed change and ethical revolution in the country,” he stressed.

 As part of the process for reinstituting the merit system as the core of public service professionalism, he said the commission will want to include top three to five performers in each senatorial districts into the federal service annually.

Responding, the  minister said the vision of the chairman aligns with that  of  her ministry where there is intentional programmes to catch the young ones early where their leadership qualities are identified.

 She said the programme does not  have a bias for social background,  noting that leaders are born but environment can be created to groom and nurture others into an effective leadership.

According to her, the country has not placed a premium on young people, noting that any country that desires development must invest in young people.

She  linked the youth restiveness  in the country to  neglect in this aspect which could have been averted if adequate attention was paid in this regard.

Ibrahim explained that there was a need for youth corps members on national service to be matched with their careers so as not veer off of their ambitions to avoid mismatch.

She disclosed that the Enterprise Development Programme in NYSC would be strengthened , saying only 10 per cent of 400,000 youth corps members get actual jobs while the rest wander about.