By Ngozi Nwankwo
Mrs Didi Walson-Jack has yesterday, assumed the role of Permanent Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Education with the promise of an excellent service.
Expressing her gratitude to resume at the Ministry, Walson-Jack assured that Education Ministry must achieve the eight priorities of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration (2023-2027).
She said in line with the Strategic Plan, they should aim to improve the quality of public service delivery, providing a more lasting trajectory for the country’s progressive development.
” The six priority areas of the Plan include the acceleration of capacity building and Talent Management. Institutionalization of the Performance Management System, Improvement of the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System Institutionalization of Innovation in the Public Service Digitalization, and Staff Welfare.
“The actualisation of the goals and aspirations of the Strategic Plan would change the narrative associated with the Public Sector as one dominated by poor performance, stagnation, and self-interest in contrast to the values of excellence and productivity.
” Our ability to achieve these goals would take the Ministry back to the days when Nigerian Public Service workers offered robust contributions. pioneered, and implemented some of the strongest and community. driven Projects and Programmes in the history of our country and the development of significant sectors of the economy,” she said.
The new Permanent Secretary challenged staff members to put in their best, saying “We must acknowledge that all the work we do in this Ministry is first for Almighty God and second for the Federal Government and the good people of Nigeria, It follows, therefore, that any inefficiency incompetence, infraction, or dereliction of duty impacts the people directly and increases their suffering. Consequently, we must focus on using education to foster the development of all Nigerian Citizens to their full potential in promoting a strong, democratic, egalitarian, prosperous, indivisible, and indissoluble sovereign nation under God.
“Our most significant duty is to provide the expertise and administrative framework, act as the engine room, and do all within our competence to support the political leadership, the Honourable Minister of Education. Prof. Tahir Mamman, OON, SAN, the Honourable Minister of State, Hon. Dr. Yusuf Tanko Sununu and the Federal Government to achieve the Mandate of the Ministry for the people of Nigeria, as well as fulfil its international obligations. We must work hard in ways consistent with Ministerial and Government’s policy directives and handle practical issues and planning with diligence and commitment. Therefore, I implore everyone to work to uphold the wisdom, excellence and good reputation of the Public Service and promote the principles of good governance.”
As the Leader and the Chief Accounting Officer of the Ministry, she pledged always to uphold the truth, saying “I shall be honest with you all the time. I shall always endeavour to do right to all men and women without fear or favour
“In the same vein, I urge you to commit to doing the right thing all the time. Whenever you are in doubt about what to do or how to do it, check and seek guidance in the Public Service Rules (PSR) and extant Circulars and if you cannot find the answer, then do The Next Right Thing. Since justice and charity begin at home, I am willing and able to correct all anomalies to ensure we entrench diligence responsiveness efficiency commitment and dedication to duty in all our operations.”
While thanking the Ministry of Education’s staff members for the warm reception, Walson-Jack also pleaded for a cordial and fruitful working relationship with them.