Obaseki Inducts Newly Recruited Civil/Public Servants, Reiterates Commitment to Merit-Based Selection Process
…Charges new recruits on transparency, honesty, and service delivery
By Eguasa Godspower
The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki on Thursday, 26th January 2023, flagged-off a 10-day onboarding program for newly recruited civil and public servants as part of the ongoing reforms to reposition and strengthen the State’s public service for optimal delivery.
Obaseki while delivering his remarks at the John Odigie Oyegun Public Service Academy (JOOPSA), congratulated the new recruits for their competence in emerging victorious in the recently concluded recruitment process, and promised that his administration will continue to prioritize a merit-based recruitment system that will ensure honesty, transparency, and quality service delivery.
Obaseki said: “It’s indeed a great pleasure this morning to be part of your onboarding program. So your first step onto the civil service platform should be one where we work with you, and go through with you, what the expectations are, and how we expect you to conduct yourselves and do your work.
“The Head of Service was quite charitable in his opening remarks, but he made some very salient points. First, every one of you here was recruited on the basis of merit. I, the Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, saw the advert like everybody else and just witnessed the process. A few people tried to call me to ask me favours, but I said no, we don’t do that in Edo anymore”.
According to Obaseki: “If you have somebody that is looking for work, ask that person to apply, and if that person qualifies, then that person would be given the job. But it is not fair, it is not right, and it’s not good for the system when we do not have an objective basis, or objective criteria to bring people into the service.
“I hear people complain, some of my political colleagues, oh they are hiring, they didn’t give them any allocation, well, as long as I am the Governor, that will not happen in Edo State”.
Obaseki while expressing unwavering commitment to the continuous transformation and improvement of the civil/public service institutions in Edo, noted that the success of any nation cannot be disconnected from the capacity and efficiency of its civil and public institutions.
According to him, the lack of quality, healthy and reliable institutions has been one of Nigeria’s major challenges and reason for failures in economic development.
He said: “And the reason why we are insisting on ensuring that the best come into the civil service is not just because this is what happens everywhere else in the world, the reason why it happens everywhere else in the world is that when you see a State, a country, a system that is not working, there is a reason why.
“We all sit down and lament and complain about Nigeria, there is a reason why Nigeria does not work. When the instruments of Government, the key organs of Government, particularly, the civil service, when it does not work, then the country and the system of that country cannot work”.
Obaseki added that: “the reason why Nigeria is not working is because it’s public services are not working, both at the Federal, State, and the Local Governments.
“In the United Kingdom, last year, how many times did they change their prime minister? Three times, but did the country stop working? No. why? Because its civil service kept on running. That is how our system in Nigeria was designed”.
Mr Obaseki encouraged the new recruits to be diligent, studious, and honest in carrying out their duties, pledging allegiance unto God and not any man.
He said: “First, because you earned this appointment based on merit, please note that your responsibility is to God and your people. Not to any man. So, if anybody says; do something that you know is not right, don’t do it. Even if they threaten to sack you, let them sack, but don’t.
“Whatever is not in the interest of the people and unfavourable to God, don’t do it. You might suffer temporary setbacks, but ultimately you will prevail. Don’t be intimidated as long as you are doing the right thing.” he concluded.