The Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, says any government that fails to give good welfare packages to its workers plans to fail, and risks losing its goodwill among citizens.
Ambode, who spoke on Tuesday at a two-day training workshop in Ikeja, said government had a duty to ensure that the welfare of workers was taken care of in order to get excellent services.
The governor, who was represented by the Commissioner for Establishments, Training and Pensions, Dr Benson Oke, said, “Any government that plays with welfare of workers does so at the risk of ruining the devotion of its employees and consequently the trust of the citizens.
“Of the many wise employers living by this noble ideal, the Lagos State Government is one of the most notable. The dedication of the Lagos government to the welfare of its workforce – both during and after service – cannot be denied.”
Ambode said the objective of the training was to sharpen interpersonal relation skills of officers of the Lagos State Civil Service in order to serve the government and the people of the state.
He stressed the need for the workers to possess soft skills such as personal values, etiquette, getting along with others, listening and engaging in small talk, among others.
“Soft skills can be learned and they ultimately contribute to the efficiency and effectiveness of organisations such as the Lagos State Civil Service. As an officer of the Lagos State Civil Service, you are also expected to have soft skills,” he said.
