Tina Amanda
The Rivers State Ministry of Health says administrative training and retraining of Staff in public service is essential to build the desired level of skill and knowledge for effective service delivery.
Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Health, Dr Ndidi Utchay, stated this in a two-day training of administrative staff, organised in Port Harcourt by the Ministry with the theme: “understanding the basic techniques of effective communication and record management in public service”.
Dr Utchay explained that the training is geared towards putting the administrative staff of the ministry on the right path in order to enhance better performance in service delivery in various positions and offices occupied at different levels.
The Permanent Secretary, however, expressed concern that transmitting of official information and record keeping has been a serious challenge over the years in the service system.
“It has been observed that officers are found to be lacking in work ethics which we all know, we come to work anytime we like, we do as we please, we lock our offices even to sit down is a problem, call for something is a problem so in all ramifications we are found lacking both in the knowledge of techniques of handling confidential, secret, top secret, classified documents and file’s in the public service.
“There are lots of leakages from our offices, information that is not meant to go outside you find them out there, where is it coming from? Is coming from inside our offices because somebody is in charge of those files. When these leakages occur we put the government in serious problems, which is why this program is geared toward putting admin staff on the right path.
“Administrative training of this nature is necessary in public service as it will build the level of skill and knowledge of participants in effective communication and record management particularly as it concerns our official duties in public service.
She urged the participants to pay keen interest and attention to the facilitators’ lecture as they train on basic techniques of effective communication and records management in public service.
Also, the Training Coordinator Nnamcy and Associates, Sir Cletus Idu, maintained it has been observed that many employees in the public institutions in both state and local government have little or no knowledge of service rules, regulations, procedures and processes that govern clear writing, communication ethics, conduct and effective records management.
“This deplorable situation is affecting the smooth flow of work in the service system while noting noted that improper management of records and effective communication due to ignorance of existing rules and work ethics in handling administrative functions has always resulted in crisis, errors and wrong decisions.
“It is important that desk officers handling emails, documents, memo writing and all forms of organizational correspondence or records need to be equipped with proper knowledge, the right skills, ethics and good attitude as to improve performance and better service delivery in public service”.
