By Seun Adams
The Head of Service of the Federation, Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan has flagged off the Federal Public Service Entrepreneurship Programme (FPSEP), a sub-initiative of one of the 6 pillars of the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan 2021-2025 (FCSSIP 25).
At the launch of the programme in Abuja, Dr. Yemi-Esan, said the programmed was conceptualised and developed out of the need to pay greater attention to the welfare of the public servants who constitute the administrative machinery for implementing government policies and programmes.
According to her, some aspects of the programme were deliberately designed to create windows for those in service to earn supplementary income to improve their quality of life, enable those retiring to cope with life after service while at the same time contributing to the development of the other sectors of the economy.
Through, this initiative they will also be contributing to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country, she added.
The HoS, said: “The programme consists of two components namely: Agripreneurship Start-up Scheme; and pre-retirement training and business start-up scheme, the setting up of the Agripreneurship start-up scheme is premised on the provisions of Section 2(b) Part 1 of the 5th 1 Schedule of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which permits public servants to engage in farming while in service.”
She added therefore that hence both serving and exiting public servants can participate in this Scheme.
On the other hand, Yemi-Esan, added that the pre-retirement training and business start-up scheme is tailored towards preparing public servants for life post-service by providing opportunities for them to acquire new skills for new career choices.
According to her, it is hoped that the knowledge garnered from the training would be plugged into the agriculture and other business ventures that will enable them create multiple sources of income for self-sustenance while in service and after exiting the service.
“I am delighted to inform you that a comprehensive curriculum has been developed for the Agripreneurship Start-up Scheme and we have six Farms participating in this first batch.
“Permit me to use this opportunity to recognize and appreciate the drive of the Permanent Secretary, Service Welfare Office, Dr. Ngozi Onwudiwe and the staff of the Employee and Industrial Relations Department in the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation for the dedication and hard work committed towards this Programme.
“It is our dream to see our workforce well empowered, skillful and more productive, and contributing meaningfully to the development of Nigeria even to the point of not just being employed but employers of labour within the provisions of extant rules.
“At this juncture, permit me to therefore congratulate the first batch of trainees, the Public Service Institute of Nigeria, Bank of Agriculture and the participating farms.
“I have no doubt that these initiatives will boost the morale of serving Officers for better service delivery and imbue required confidence in retiring officers to enable them surmount the challenges of life after service.
“I also encourage the trainees to take advantage of these laudable programmes and ensure they get maximum value for money invested by their respective organizations to develop their human capital.” The HoS, explained.