Oyo State Government has disclosed its readiness to sanction schedule officers in charge of preparation of establishment estimates in government ministries, department and agencies, whose lack of proficiency impedes the promotion of staff in the state’s civil service.

The Commissioner for Establishment and Training, Alh. Siju Lawal said this, on Thursday, while delivering a keynote address at the opening ceremony of a 2-day sensitization programme on the preparation of error-free 2022 establishment estimates for desk officers in charge of establishment estimates in ministries, department and agencies, held at the Simeon Adebo staff development center, state secretariat, Ibadan.

He said: “We are here this morning to refresh our memory and sharpen our skills on the preparation of error-free 2022 Establishments Estimates, the second of its kind in the history of the State. You will recall that at the maiden edition of this programme last year, I informed you that this Sensitization Programme will be conducted every year.

“We saw some changes in the returns on establishments estimates submitted by MDAS following the ponduct of the 2021 Sensitization Programme. As you all know, the largest Dom in the world is the room of improvement. We strongly believe that there would be considerable top in the 2022 Establishments Estimates that would be prepared and submitted by MDAs after the year’s Sensitization Programme.”

Lawal further noted that the training is geared towards sharpening the skills of the participants as part of efforts by the present administration in the state to swiftly depart from the old order of personnel budget, to a more realistic approach in line with the ideals of new public management.

While saying that the programme was an innovation aimed at complete departure from the order of “copy and paste Personnel Budget to a more realistic one in tandem with the ideals of New Public Management, he admonished participants to accommodate the dynamism in public administration and other complementary technological innovations brought about by Information and Communication Technology (ICT).

“So, all hands must, therefore, be on deck towards ensuring preparation and publication of error-free establishment estimates,’’ Lawal added.

Earlier in his welcome address, the permanent secretary, ministry of establishment and training Mr. B.A Adeyanju expressed optimism that the skills acquired will further enhance the performance of schedule officers in charge of establishment estimates in ministries, departments and agencies of government.

He, therefore, charged participants to pay rapt attention and contribute meaningfully in the course of the training.