Civil servants in Oyo State have been urged to pursue knowledge and skills beyond their current capacities in order to remain relevant and effective in the service.

The PUNCH reported that the charge was given on Friday by the Oyo State Commissioner for Establishments and Training, Prof. Abdulwaheed Adelabu, while speaking with journalists shortly after declaring open a one-day training workshop for 85 workers as part of a series of capacity-building programmes organised by the state government.

The training programme was held at the Simeon Adebo Staff Development Centre located within the State Secretariat in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

Adelabu stressed the importance of continuous learning and professional development among public servants, noting that acquiring additional skills would improve their efficiency and effectiveness in carrying out their responsibilities.

“Civil servants need to undergo more training and acquire additional skills that will enhance their efficiencies and responsibilities at the state level,” the commissioner said.

According to him, the state government remains committed to strengthening the capacity of workers across all levels of the public service through the activities of the Simeon Adebo Staff Development Centre.

“the government, through the Simeon Adebo Staff Development Centre, is not relenting in ensuring that all cadres in the service are trained; both the academic and non-academic staff are working to sustain the legacy of Simeon Adebo.”

Speaking on the prevailing economic challenges in the country, Adelabu assured workers that their welfare remains a top priority for Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration.

He acknowledged that the economic hardship currently being experienced is a national issue and not one limited to Oyo State, adding that the state government has continued to implement measures aimed at reducing the burden on workers.

“A couple of years back, it was only in Oyo State that we had an initiative called Sustainable Action for Economic Recovery (SAfER). Also, there is a fuel subsidy allowance of N10,000 for each worker to ease transportation burden, as well as buses to convey them to and from different locations,” Adelabu said.

The commissioner further stated that Oyo State ranks among the three leading states in Nigeria in terms of workers’ welfare based on available economic indices.

The workshop featured four categories of participants comprising auditors, account officers, secretaries and train-the-trainers personnel.

The participants were drawn from 25 ministries, departments and agencies across the state public service.

Adelabu also encouraged the workers to explore opportunities for personal and financial growth by acquiring knowledge and skills that could increase their earning capacity.

He urged participants to “learn to earn” in order to increase their sources of income.