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Abia State has rolled out a new policy aimed at elevating standards in the public service, stipulating that career progression for administrative staff will now be contingent on possessing relevant professional certifications, with a maximum ceiling of level 13 for those without.
In a gathering with the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management and top administrative officials in Umuahia, Abia State’s Head of Service, Mrs. Ngozi Queen Obioma, made a significant announcement, outlining a new path forward for the state’s civil service.
Mrs. Obioma revealed that the new policy was inspired by a federal directive, Circular No. HCSF/SPSO/ODD/CND/100/S.I/195, issued by the Head of Service of the Federation on March 21, 2024, which Abia State has chosen to implement in its entirety.
In 2025, a new benchmark will be set for administrative officers and executive officials on grade levels 10-13, Mrs. Obioma announced, as they will require professional certifications to be considered for promotions beyond level 13 in the civil and public service.
Speaking on behalf of the State Head of Service, Mr. Kingsley Ibelegbu encouraged workers without professional certifications to take advantage of the opportunity to enhance their skills and knowledge, stressing the value of professionalization in personal and career growth.
Read also: Otti Inaugurates 9-man Visitation Panel To Abia State Varsity
In her speech during the training for the civil servants, the National Treasurer, Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM), Mrs Ogochukwu Egbuonu, who disclosed that the institute has made inroads in human resource, said they were in Abia to sensitize civil servants on the essence of equipping themselves professionally.
Egbuonu commended the efforts of Governor Alex Otti to give Abia workers their pride of place.
She advised them to discharge their duties in line with the tenets of the Abia public service anthem in the areas of integrity, excellence, competence and honesty.
Mr. Olutayo Olawale, the Institute’s Director of Membership and Marketing Development, emphasized the organization’s position as the ultimate authority on human resource management in Nigeria, urging workers to become members and leverage its resources to deliver exceptional public service.
Following the training program, a number of civil servants shared their aspirations with the media, revealing plans to upgrade their first degrees and HNDs with professional certificates, thereby securing a more stable future in the public service.
The civil servants voiced a collective request, imploring the state government to provide financial assistance, easing the financial strain of obtaining professional certifications and enabling them to enhance their skills without undue hardship.
