From Paul Osuyi, Asaba
A total of 190 senior civil servants in the Delta State public service are undergoing a senior management course that earns them promotion from the administrative cadre to the directorate cadre in the service.
Tagged “Seven-Weekend Higher Management Course”, the training, which is being organised by the Office of the State Head of Service in collaboration with the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON), is the 18th in the series.
Declaring it open on Thursday in Asaba, the state Head of Service, Mr Reginald Bayoko, reminded civil servants of the need to demonstrate loyalty in driving the vision and agenda of the government of the day for the benefit of the entire state.
Mr Bayoko charged the participants to aspire for the peak of their careers through diligence in the discharge of their duties, saying that they were at a critical curve in their careers.
“You are graduating from the administrative officer cadre to the directorate cadre which starts from salary grade level 15. You are at a critical curve in your career in which you need extra dexterity to negotiate.
“The turning point of entering the directorate cadre, that is level 15, is different from that straight line that you maintained. So you have to focus on where you are now to negotiate properly.
“By the time you finish here, you have to see yourself in a different light. Your participation and success in this course is a prerequisite to salary grade level 15 in the civil service,” stated.
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Bayoko charged them to focus on the entire training and not just the expected examination, noting that the whole essence was “for you to understand what is being taught. Make your mind available and follow it.”
He commended Governor Ifeanyi Okowa for his commitment demonstrated in the consistent approval and release of funds for the annual training programme.
Director-General of ASCON, Mrs Cecilia Umar-Gayya, drew the attention of participants to the huge investment in the training by the state government despite the paucity of funds and depressed economy.
Represented by the Director of Studies, Mr Goodluck Audu, Gayya urged them to therefore reciprocate the gesture with regular attendance and cooperation throughout the period of the course.
She reminded participants of the need to be security conscious in view of the rate of insecurity across the country.
“We should be security conscious and watchful as we discharge our responsibilities. We must make use of security advice and safety tips throughout the duration of the course and beyond,” she cautioned.