Bowing out from service especially for those who benefited leadership position usually comes with its attendant stock taking and assessment.
As for those who served meritoriously, the incoming should know and be better prepared with their action-plans and programs as they too would soon be scored.
For the Head of Civil Service Plateau State, a gentle and finely discipline officer today Friday 26th March marks his final day of a spanning work career in the Plateau State Civil Service.
The journey to the final line for Mr Izam Atang Azi, mni started humbly on 21st January 1988 as an Administrative Officer II with Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
Being one who had appointment with destiny, he rose through the ladder and was appointed Head of Civil Service as then the longest Permanent Secretary in the service by the Leader of the Rescue Administration, Rt. Hon. Dr. Simon Bako Lalong, the Executive Governor of Plateau State on November 8th 2015.
Mr. Izam Azi, mni is an alumni of the prestigious National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru of Senior Executive Course 31 before appointed to the peak of his career and has served meritoriously through the ranks as Principal Personnel Officer, Under Secretary II & I, in the Office of Secretary to State Government, served as Permanent Secretary in the following ministries & parastatals: Cabinet & Special Services, Ministry of Housing & Transport, Ministry for Urban Development, Deputy Governor’s Office, Policy & General Services & Government House, and Interim Administrator, Jos East between 1996-2015 before been appointed Head of Service.
No doubt, the laurels and work progression had groomed the outgoing Head of Service for the task of rejuvenating and bringing to bear his experience into the Plateau State Civil Service for a disciplined, professional and systematised workforce in meeting the service delivery of government to its citizens.
Consequently, the Head of Service engaged deliberately the beleaguered glory of the service in the State into a solid foundational base with number of key reforms, imbibing discipline and motivation into the workforce even as it is faced with lean resources from the federal allocation.
Further more, in his effort, the outgoing Head of Service worked tirelessly and resolved some major outstanding and emerging labour issues through early warning signals were sift as well improved workers welfare ensuring harmonious working relationship, a departure from period of late and unpaid workers salaries and unresolved industrial dispute in the state workforce.
Indeed, it is on record that the outgoing Head of Service would be remembered for being a go between workers in the state and the Executives in canvassing for dialogues and creating understanding for good progress of humanity.
It is pertinent to say that the Head of Service till the last minute has exhibited superlative energy, wisdom and good workmanship in carrying out his assignments, mediating with workers of the Non Academic Staff Union of Tertiary Institutions of the State to have a seamless industrial peace exists in the State.
Assuredly, by most parameter, it is testified that the Head of Service is leaving behind the service better than he met since the service has promoted well over twenty thousand two & forty eight (20,248.000) CSC & TSC staff & reviewed upward & implemented certain salary structures for different category & purchase of land for civil servants’ housing at Rafiki, immediate enrollment of retired Civil Servants into the State pension scheme as well one thousand, nine hundred & eighty-five(1,885) civil servants had accessed loan with Federal Mortgage Bank totaling one billion, nine hundred & seven million, eight hundred & ninety seven thousand naira only(#1,907,897,000) were the effort of the Head of Service.
It is not surprising then that during his time as Head of Service Labour Unions and Associations have identified to bestow on him Awards of Excellence for his outstanding career performance which key amongst are:
i. Award of Excellence by Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria for maintaining Rule of Law in Civil Service;
ii. Meritorious Award by Joint Union of Plateau State Owned Tertiary Institutions in February, 2021 for dedicated service, workers welfare and enhancing Industrial Harmony in the State;
iii. Award of Excellence by the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, Plateau State Branch, March 2021 for outstanding contribution to the growth of the Civil Service.
As it is always easier to remember as well set the next agenda when we appraise the performance of public office holders, especially when they served well as a motivation deemed for their successors to do better and out pace them.
That being the case, as the Head of Service bows honourably from meritorious years of service, soon the State Civil Service will welcome a new Head of Service.
It is expected that lessons, successes and challenges would spur and be a stepping stone for who the cap fits should willingly and readily push for further reforms, professionalism and dedication to service into the Plateau State Civil Service for greater productivity.
That news commentary on “REFORMS & ACHIEVEMENTS AS THE PLATEAU STATE HEAD OF SERVICE EXITS” was written by Philip Atsen, a Public Affairs commentator.
Nasarawa Reporters 