By Enitan Abel Johngold
The Delta State Head of Service, Dr. Mininim I. Oseji, has marked her first year in office with a strong commitment to repositioning the state’s civil service for efficiency, innovation, and improved welfare, even as she lamented the biting economic realities facing workers.
Addressing journalists on Friday as part of activities marking her one-year anniversary in office, Oseji acknowledged that the current economic situation has taken a significant toll on civil servants, stressing that her administration is actively exploring practical ways to ensure workers achieve financial stability and prosperity.
“The hard economy is taking a huge toll on civil servants,” she said, adding that her office is focused on introducing initiatives that will not only enhance productivity but also improve the economic wellbeing of workers.
Reflecting on her 12 months in office, the Head of Service outlined a blend of reactivated and newly introduced reforms aimed at strengthening institutional capacity and modernising the service.
Among the reactivated initiatives are the revival of The Bureaucrat publication, Civil Service Week celebrations, breakfast dialogue sessions, and structured courtesy visits by retiring Permanent Secretaries. Others include the enforcement of a revised dress code and the reintroduction of time-book monitoring to curb lateness and absenteeism.
Oseji also highlighted several new initiatives, with a strong emphasis on digital transformation and staff development. These include virtual training programmes, the use of digital tools such as Google Forms, and a social media-driven communication strategy to enhance information dissemination within the service.
To cushion economic pressures, she introduced a subsidised staff transport scheme and facilitated trainings in grant writing, scholarship acquisition, and financial literacy. She also encouraged civil servants to embrace agriculture by providing inputs, describing it as a viable pathway to economic empowerment.
In a move to institutionalise continuous learning, the HoS upgraded the Staff Training Centre and promoted in-house capacity-building sessions, while also strengthening Departments of Planning, Research and Statistics across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
Looking ahead, Oseji disclosed that her office has set ambitious priorities for 2026, including the establishment of a pilot ICT hub to drive statewide digitalisation, reforms to elevate the Staff Training Centre to a standard comparable to a civil service college, and improved feedback mechanisms through suggestion and complaints systems monitored by SERVICOM nodal officers.
She further emphasised plans to enforce discipline and eliminate inefficiencies within the service, targeting misconduct such as absenteeism, falsification of records, and insubordination, while promoting a culture of excellence anchored on punctuality, transparency, innovation, and professionalism.
“Our goal is to minimise mediocrity and maximise excellence,” she stated, adding that the civil service must evolve into a results-driven and citizen-focused institution.
The anniversary celebration featured several activities, including a facility tour showcasing beautification projects within the Head of Service complex, the presentation of a book inspired by her personal journey, and the institution of cash prizes for outstanding civil servants, including a N200,000 award for the best civil servant farmer.
Oseji also used the occasion to reflect on lessons learned from Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, noting that principles such as transparency, merit, equity, and the “politics of good governance” have guided her leadership approach.
She expressed gratitude to the governor for the opportunity to serve, reaffirming her commitment to policies that will enhance service delivery and improve the lives of Deltans.
As her tenure progresses toward retirement, stakeholders say her reforms, particularly in digitalisation, staff welfare, and institutional discipline, could leave a lasting imprint on Delta State’s civil service if sustained.
