President Goodluck Jonathan has charged the new Head of Service of the Federation, Mr. Danladi Kifasi, to think Nigeria first in the conduct of government businesses based on standard best practices and not based on his wishes.
Jonathan stated this on Wednesday at the inauguration of Kifasi alongside the commissioner representing Abia/Imo State in the Federal Civil Service Commission, Mr. Chima Odunze, shortly before the commencement of the weekly Federal Executive Council meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
“People must handle government affairs as government affairs, not personal.
“My observation with people from the little period I have been working in government is that a number of people handle things based on their thinking, not based on the standard practice.
“There must be standard practice and your own experience will add to that to make you succeed. But when people keep away from the standard practice and decide to do what they think is right or what they think is wrong, then of course you cannot succeed.
“When we talk. We talk about bureaucracy in the service, the idea is to make sure that things are properly done and they minimise errors.
“For example, if you advise Mr. President wrongly and he puts his signature on something, the effect of that is critical and that is why before the President will endorse something or a minister will endorse something, that thing must have been properly filtered by responsible officers,” he stated.
Jonathan said the impunity and misconduct in the civil service has unfortunately been in existence over the years because people decide to do things dishonestly.
“Your predecessors did very well. I have worked with so many Heads of Service from when I became the Vice President till now. I think about four or so, I think you are the fifth person, they all did wonderfully well and I believe you will improve on that,” he said.
