16th November, 2017
By Kazeem Ugbodaga
Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode on Thursday warned civil servants against importing non-workable ideas and policies into the civil service in order not to impede productivity.
The governor spoke at a two-day training on “Policy Analysis, Development And Implementation for Policy Analysts and Developers in the Lagos State Public Service,” held in Ikeja, Lagos, Southwest Nigeria.
Ambode, who was represented by the Commissioner for Establishments, Training and Pensions, Dr. Benson Oke said Lagos was too distinct for anybody to want to import non-workable ideas applicable elsewhere into the system as such policies would hinder efficiency which the state was known.
He said at the end of this training, it was the expectation of the government that the participating officers would be better able to appreciate what policy analysis involved and its typical institutional settings as well as the personal and professional attributes required to be an effective policy analyst.
“Participating officers will be better able to appreciate what role government plays in society and its limitations and strengths compared with other social institutions, including markets and how to integrate market analysis, cost-benefit analysis, comparative institutional analysis, and evaluation methods into policy research exercises,” he said.
Ambode added that the end of the training, the trainees would also be able to effectively engage in consultation, team work, and conflict management during policy formulation and analysis; how to clearly scope and develop policy ideas and present policy analyses effectively for multiple audiences and how to work effectively with others to promote sound policy solutions.
“The objectives enumerated above represent the indices now regarded, as a matter of global best practice, as essential knowledge and practice for public sector policy experts. The value to be derived from them are not quantifiable. But, as always, we must take great pains to carefully domesticate them both institutionally and individually, taking care to avoid importing practices that are not workable under our local circumstances.
“Beyond this, however, we must be challenged to aspire to the highest standards of governance and administration that the citizens expect from the government,” Ambode stated.
The governor also said those involved in the public policy process needed to possess strong analytical skills and the ability to apply a variety of research and evaluation methods within a complex political and economic environment, adding that this training would therefore review the analytical approaches that were essential for effective policy development in modern times.