The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, Deaconess Grace Isu Gekpe, has expressed confidence in the ongoing Peer Review initiative of the federal government for permanent secretaries in the various ministries, departments and agencies to share their experiences, saying it has the potential to improve productivity and help public servants to adhere to the ethics and tenets of the service while performing their duties.

Gerkpe who made this known on Thursday, April 5, 2018, while welcoming the body of Permanent Secretaries in the Federal Civil Service to the National Press Centre, Radio House, Garki-Abuja, venue for the presentation of the Ministry’s Peer Review Report, said the indebt analysis of the numerous achievements and challenges by Ministries, Departments and Agencies can contribute to taking the federal civil service back to what it used to be.

In her words “I am optimistic that at the end of the peer review exercise and the in-depth analysis of our ministries achievements and challenges, we can chart a way forward for improved productivity and service delivery for the growth of the sector; advance of our dear country; and contribute to taking the federal civil service back to its core attributes of hard work, loyalty, dedication and integrity”.

Speaking further on the achievements of the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture in the year under review, Deaconess Gekpe said it is in recognition of the ministry’s commitment to her mandate of managing the country’s image as well as to showcasing the real cultural heritage and diversity of this country that the present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari has identified it as a sector of focus in its economic recovery efforts.

“Through the years, the creative sector has proven to be a catalyst for economic growth, especially the entertainment industry, which has contributed immensely to the GDP of the nation. The ministry has been working assiduously to create the enabling environment for the information, culture and tourism sectors to thrive through policies and actions, driven through the combined efforts of its dedicated staff and the parastatals that are the implementing arms of the ministry”.

“The entire management team and my humble self has taken steps to improve the synergy between the ministry and parastatals to ensure we work harmoniously towards achieving one common goal which is to reposition the culture and tourism sectors for economic growth as well as ensure that the information sector in Nigeria operates in line with the international best practices and can compete effectively on the global stage”.

She commended the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF), Mrs. Winifred Oyo Ita, for her exemplary leadership, which she stressed, has remained a source of encouragement to many in the federal civil service.

The Peer Review Mechanism was initiated by the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) to review the activities of the federal government ministries, departments and agencies as well as provide the platform for permanent secretaries to interact with one another and draw lessons from their respective strengths and weaknesses.

Permanent Secretaries present during the presentation of the Ministry’s Peer Review Report were; Folyan Ayodele Olaniyi (Common Services Office, OHCSF); Leon Aliboh Lawrence (Special Duties Office, OHCSF); Lawal Mustapha Suleiman (Career Office, OHCSF); Georgina Ehuria Ekeoma (Cabinet Affairs, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation); Bolaji Adebiyi Adebunke (Ministry of Labour and Productivity); Abdulahi Abdulazeez Mashi (Ministry of Communications); Amina Mohammed (Ministry of Science & Technology); and Mr. Louis Edozien (Ministry of Power).

Chief Executives of parastatals under the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture present were; Mr. Louis Eriomala. Acting ES, National Institute for Cultural Orientation; Abdullahi Muku, DG, National Gallery of Arts; Tar Ukoh, Artistic Director, National Theatre/Troupe of Nigeria; Emeka Onuegbu, Acting DG, National Commission for Museums & Monuments; Is’haq Modibbo Kawu, DG, National Broadcasting Commission; Nnamdi Njemanze, ES, Nigerian Press Council; and Folorunsho Coker, DG, Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation, among others.

Caleb Nor

Media Asst. to Ag. ES

NICO HQ

Abuja-FCT