By ADAMU ABDULLAHI

This observation was made by the Director-General of the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON) who was represented by Dr. Jimmy Chijoke during the opening ceremony of the batch 11 of ASCON workshop for senior officers aspiring for managerial position held at Murtala Muhammad Library Complex, Kano.

Dr. Chijoke said the persistent support the Shekarau administration gives to the Sharia institution and the transparent disposition of the government have tremendously changed the outlook of the state.
He maintained that Kano under the present administration has been rated high for the strict adherence to the principles of good governance, adding that United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and other international bodies in Nigeria have attested to this deserving credit.

Commenting on the workshop, the director said it is practical in nature and will combine various management teaching tools and techniques as well as expose the participants to the general body of management and provide avenue for mutual diffusion of experience.

Dr. Chijoke further noted that the workshop will equip the participant with requisite skills to identify clearly the objectives and development priorities of Kano civil service.

In his address, the Kano state governor, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, said the vision of his administration is to have well equipped, adequately staffed and well trained civil service, manned by skilled and morally-oriented civil servants.

Governor Shekarau explained that government has noted with satisfaction the increasing zeal among civil servants to acquire more knowledge and professional skills as confirmed by the increasing number of staff sponsored for local and overseas courses.

Malam Shekarau also expressed appreciation on how the public and the service have embraced the doctrines of Societal Reorientation, A Daidaita Sahu by imbibing its tenets, particularly the ethics of morality.

The governor noted that motivations by his administration such as prompt and regular payment of salaries and allowances as well as incentives such as vehicle loans, upward review of duty tour allowance and overheads made the state civil service a shining example in the country and is being emulated by many states.
He urged the participants to pay serious attention to acquire more knowledge and skills that will make them able to effectively and efficiently face managerial problems and challenges in their respective organisations.

Earlier in his welcome speech, Kano state Head of Civil Service, Malam Rabi’u Zakariya’u had said since the inception of the present administration a total of 9,481 civil servants have benefited immensely from keen manpower development drive through acquisition of additional skills and techniques.

The head of service said the workshop is designed to expose and acquaint the participants with the basic skills of decision making and other aspects of modern management.

He said that since the inception of the present administration, special attention has been accorded to training and re-training of civil servants of different cadres in the service.