By CHRISTIANA LOT, Jos –
Plateau State Government has commenced full digitization of civil service operations including biometric attendance systems, e-governance processes, and digital personnel records as part of efforts to entrench professionalism and enhance efficiency in the public service.
This was disclosed by the Head of Civil Service, Mr. Stephen Pam Gadong, at the 2025 Ministerial Press Briefing held in Jos. According to him, the deployment of an integrated system for computerizing workers’ records was already underway, with the ultimate goal of transitioning to a fully automated e-governance structure.
“We have commenced the installation of biometric attendance devices across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), and digitized personnel records to eliminate manual bottlenecks and ghost workers
“Our vision is to create a more responsive, performance-driven service in line with the ‘Time is Now’ mantra of His Excellency, Barrister Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang.” He stated.
He added that the reforms also include a one-month ICT literacy programme for administrative staff, digital skills training for Permanent Secretaries, and approval of study leave with pay for 68 officers in the 2024/2025 session.
Gadong also disclosed that he recently took part in a study tour of Singapore’s Civil Service, facilitated by the UNDP and the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation.
“It afforded us the opportunity to explore and adopt best practices from Singapore’s Civil Service particularly its reforms, good governance, digital transformation, and transparency,” he noted.
Turning to housing and asset development, the Head of Service revealed a major new investment aimed at improving staff welfare through affordable accommodation.
“One of the significant milestones in this area is the approval of N372,750,000 by the government for the purchase of land for a new Plateau State Housing Scheme at Zawhura Village in Bassa Local Government Area.”
“This bold initiative underscores government’s commitment to civil servant welfare and affordable housing. The process leading to the commencement of the scheme has already begun,” he emphasized.
According to him, the housing scheme is one of several concrete steps being taken to restore the dignity of public service and reposition the civil service as “the engine room of government.”
Earlier in her remarks, the Commissioner for Information and Communication, Hon. Joyce Lohya Ramnap, welcomed participants to the briefing, emphasizing the administration’s commitment to transparency and accountability. She described the ministerial briefing as a platform for public scrutiny that only a people-driven government would support.
“There is no gainsaying that this activity bridges the gap between the government and the people it serves in terms of providing access to information and promoting the culture of accountability in public service
“I believe no government working at cross purposes with the people’s interest will be willing to provide such a platform for the scrutiny of its activities. But the Mutfwang-led government is not just any government; it is a government whose agenda is simply a synthesis of the legitimate aspirations of the people of Plateau State,” she added.
In addition to the presentation by the Head of Civil Service on Tuesday, the three-day event featured presentations by Commissioners from the Ministries of Commerce and Industry, Transport, and Lands and Survey.
The presentation of scorecards by other MDAs continues on Wednesday, May 21, 2025.
