By Nasiru Imam
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Dr. Magdalene Ajani, has said the commencement of Performance Management Systems (PMS) workshop at the Ministry is aimed at strengthening the capacity of its key personnel, equipping them with essential skills, and providing a structured roadmap for cascading the systems across its agencies for service delivery.
The workshop which has as it them: “United Front for a Secure Nation and Future,” the workshop marks the beginning of a series of training sessions focused on enhancing the overall efficiency and accountability within the civil service.
In her opening address, Ajani, emphasised the significance of the workshop in aligning the Ministry’s goals with the Federal Civil Service Strategic Implementation Plan (FCSSIP 2021-2025).
“This training serves as a foundational step in the transformative journey initiated by the federal government to introduce PMS across all ministries, departments, and agencies. It is essential for fostering accountability, transparency, and result-oriented governance in the public sector,” she stated.
Ajani, highlighted that PMS is a crucial component of the FCSSIP 2021-2025, anchored on six strategic pillars, with the system playing a key role in delivering improved service outcomes.
She further noted the introduction of key performance indicators (KPIs), ministerial scorecards, and clear performance targets, all designed to drive results with precision and focus.
“By developing our scorecards and cascading KPIs, we will ensure that the Ministry and its agencies contribute significantly to national goals,” she added.
The Permanent Secretary stressed the urgency of adopting the PMS, noting that the previously used Annual Performance Evaluation Report (APER) system had become ineffective.
“APER has been scrapped in the public service, as directed by the Federal Executive Council (FEC), and we must embrace PMS to establish a merit-based system that delivers value,” she reiterated.
The Permanent Secretary further expressed her appreciation to the Honourable Minister of Interior, the heads of agencies, and all participants for their commitment to making the workshop a success.
Earlier, the Deputy Director Overseeing the Planning Research and Statistics Department, Christy Adeniyi, said the workshop underscores the Ministry’s commitment to addressing inefficiency and delivering quality service in line with the national development plan.
“As part of the PMS implementation, participants will be trained to develop performance contracts, which will cascade from the Minister down to the last member of staff, ensuring a clear and objective assessment framework,” she explained.
Adeniyi added that the Ministry aims to ensure all personnel have a thorough understanding of PMS, which will ultimately elevate service delivery standards across board.
The ongoing workshop is the first step in a series of training sessions that will continue over the coming weeks, including sectoral retreats and deeper dives into performance management practices.
The workshop which will run from Monday 14th – Wednesday 16th October 2024, aims to equip participants with the knowledge to monitor, measure, and reward performance effectively, ensuring alignment between individual and institutional goals with national development priorities.
Participants of the training included Directors, Heads of Department, and Human Resources and Planning Officers from the Ministry and its agencies, who are expected to play a key role in driving the implementation process.
