Bayelsa State Governor Senator Douye Diri has stressed the importance of a strong and professional civil service to effective governance, saying permanent secretaries must serve as a critical bridge between political leaders and the bureaucracy.
Diri, who was represented by his deputy, Dr. Peter Akpe, stated this on Monday while declaring the opening of a three-day executive training program for permanent secretaries in Yenagoa, the state capital.
The training was organized by the Bayelsa State Government in collaboration with the Nigeria Institute of Management (Chartered), under the theme ‘Strategic Leadership and Public-Sector Governance for Effective Service Delivery.’
The governor said his administration holds the civil service and bureaucracy in high esteem, maintaining that “bureaucracy is expected to promote order, efficiency, fairness, accountability, proper record-keeping, and institutional continuity.”
While urging permanent secretaries to provide professional advice to political leaders and work closely with directors and other professionals within their ministries, Diri stressed the need for continuous learning.
Making reference to the managerial principles of the German political economist, Max Weber, Diri warned that public servants who failed to update their knowledge could become disconnected from current realities.
He said, “Until you have a strong bureaucracy, you can’t run a good government. We should ensure that we are intentional and conscious of that particular role. You are a bridge.
“There are people who are permanent secretaries today. They joined service maybe about 30 years ago, and they are still working with the old knowledge; you can’t fit in now. So, you really have to update through learning.
“Most of the time, you see that activities and decisions in some ministries are between the commissioner and the permanent secretary, or sometimes they add the DFA. You don’t assume you know it all. You must carry your directors and other officers along.”
In his welcome address, the state’s Head of Service, Dr. Ebiye Sawyer, said the training came at a time when citizens expected government institutions to be more responsive, transparent, and efficient.
Sawyer noted that permanent secretaries occupy a strategic position in the machinery of government, with the responsibility for policy implementation, strengthening institutional systems, and promoting professionalism in the public service.
He also urged the participants to embrace digital transformation and improve administrative processes, data management, and access to government services.
“Citizens expect government institutions to be responsive, transparent, efficient, and capable of delivering quality services that positively affect their lives.
“Strategic leadership requires more than the ability to manage routine administrative responsibilities. It demands vision, sound judgement, innovation, effective communication, accountability, and the capacity to inspire officers towards achieving clearly defined institutional goals,” Sawyer said.
