Governor, Ambode
Governments and employers who fail to accept the welfare of the people as the ultimate law is at the risk of ruining its stewardships and the trust of the citizens in governance, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has said.
He made this statement at the Opening Session of the Workshop tagged: ‘Vital Interpersonal Skills for Pension Administrators’ organized by the Civil Service Pensions Office (CSPO) of the Lagos State Ministry of Establishments, Training and Pensions held in Lagos.
He said that employers who deny this run the undeniable risk of ruining their enterprise and the trust and devotion of their employees, he stated.
The Governor who was represented by the Commissioner, Ministry of Establishments, Training and Pensions, Dr. Akintola Benson said the Lagos State Government is one of the most notable of governments that believe in this ideal.
He stated that the unrivalled dedication of the State Government to the welfare of its workforce both during and after service cannot be overemphasised.
To this end, Benson said the Governor mandated his ministry to embark on a continuous training of the staff of the ministry in order to ensure the delivery of top quality service to the officers of the civil service.
The training, he said, is dedicated to the need to inculcate and sharpen the vital interpersonal skills that officers of the Civil Service Pensions Office require to properly and fully serve the pensioners and retirees of the State Civil Service.
He said: “In addition to fulfilling my duties charged with the responsibility for ensuring the adequate exposure of the civil service to knowledge on an on going basis, the activities that have been carried out signify and underscore the Governor’s commitment to all matters relating to the welfare of staff, retirees, and pensioners in Lagos State.
“In aiming to call attention to, and aid the development of, the vital interpersonal skills that are vital for pension administrators, our trainings will focus on the skills that are not learnt in schools but are important though rarely visible. These are the skills that are less tangible, harder to quantify, challenging to teach and, sometimes, difficult to describe. They include attributes such as etiquette, getting along with others, listening and engaging in small talk.
Without doubt, these skills are related to the concept of ‘Employability’ but they are also related to the concepts of effectiveness and efficiency.
“Clearly, possessing the right attitude to work is a soft skill that is not taught in universities and other formal schools. This is therefore an attempt to help officers of the Civil Service Pensions Office develop the skills that are necessary for success.
“The training will also fully assist the participating officers to appreciate and acquire the benefits that skills training brings to bear on the attainment of the strategic objectives of the government and the effectiveness of the institutions of the civil service. It will also help pension administrators in the CSPO benefit from having officers who are able to make critical observations”, he added.
