Impact the grassroots positively, Edo SSG tells political appointees
Secretary to Edo State Government, Mr. Osarodion Ogie, has enjoined political appointees in the state to impact the grassroots positively, as they work with the present administration towards achieving the overall set goals.
He gave this directive in Benin City, at the opening ceremony of the Onboarding Programme organised by the state government, to expose the newly appointed Senior Special Assistants (SSAs) and Special Assistants (SAs) to the strategic objectives of the administration.
Ogie said political appointees “carry a huge burden of making sure that the workings of government are felt in a very positive way at the grassroots”; hence the need to build leadership skills as well as explain the functions of the respective positions of appointees.
The SSG equally remarked that the programme was to help reveal the blueprint of the administration, “define role expectations for the new appointees as well as unveil deliverables, in addition to apportioning time lines to them”.
According to him, “the workings of government cover a large and dynamic area requiring discipline, accountability and responsibility to make the impact of government felt, especially at the grassroots”.
Ogie cautioned that the relationship between government functionaries and civil servants reflect one way or another on the overall image of government; hence he advised the newly appointed SSAs and SAs on the need to work in harmony and effective collaboration among all government functionaries as well as the populace.
Against this backdrop, the SSG reiterated that as political appointees of government, “they should be politically creative enough to reassure people of government’s preparedness to work in their interests, while opening the full scope of the problem confronting the people to government in a way that will encourage government to act in good time”.
He advised them to be diligent, level-headed, accessible, open and honest, while sharing the people’s burden with enthusiasm.
