As part of the ongoing Civil Service Transformation, Chairman of the Abia State Civil Service Commission, Pastor Dr. Eno Jerry-Eze on Monday hosted a technical presentation on skills mapping. The event, held at the Commission’s office in Ogurube Layout, Umuahia, brought together the Head of Service, Mr. Benson Ojeikere, and Permanent Secretaries from various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
In his opening remarks, Mr. Benson Ojeikere reiterated his commitment to collaborating with the Commission to ensure the success of the reforms, aligning the state’s civil service with national and global standards. He praised the skills mapping initiative, describing it as transformative.
“I was deeply impressed by the skills mapping framework presented by the Civil Service Commission in our preparatory meeting,” he said. “The entire process underscores Governor Otti’s dedication to workforce development and positions Abia State’s civil service for success.”
In her presentation, the Chairman of the Abia State Civil Service Commission, Pastor Dr. Eno Jerry-Eze emphasized that skills mapping is a critical step designed to lay a solid foundation for achieving and sustaining His Excellency, Governor Alex Chioma Otti’s vision to transform the Civil Service and enhance governance.
Pastor Eno outlined that skills mapping will help identify and address existing competency gaps while fostering a culture of merit-based growth and innovation in the state’s workforce.
She described Abia State’s civil service as a cornerstone for the state’s growth, committed to professionalism, innovation, and technology in its service delivery.
“The mission is simple,” Pastor Dr Eno stated. “We aim to create a highly professional, competent, and productive civil service that is accountable, disciplined, and, most importantly, capable of meeting the developmental needs of Abia State.”
Dr. Eno Jerry-Eze further described skills mapping as an essential process for identifying, documenting, and analyzing the skills of current staff in relation to specific roles. Through skills mapping, the government aims to uncover gaps, identify training needs, and ensure the civil service is capable of meeting the demands of modern governance.
“Skills mapping is crucial for ensuring that the workforce is aligned with the state’s goals and the roles within each MDA,” said Eze. “It’s a systematic process that evaluates the existing competencies of our staff, helping us identify where we need to enhance skills, fill gaps, and develop leadership capacity.”
Through these efforts, the project aims to ensure that every civil servant in Abia State is equipped with the skills necessary to perform their role efficiently, fostering a workforce that delivers exceptional service.
According to her, skills mapping process will be carried out in a systematic way. She disclosed that the Permanent Secretaries will facilitate the process at Ministries, Departments, and Agencies level, while the Chairman of the Civil Service Commission and the Head of Service will form the State-level team.
She maintained that the skills mapping process is designed to benefit civil and public servants in several ways, including: a workforce aligned with needs, skilled and fulfilled staff, merit-based career progression, and leadership in excellence. By implementing this transformation, Abia State will set a nationwide example for civil service administration.
Pastor Eno concluded, “The Skills Mapping initiative is a strategic approach to align Abia’s civil service with the future. By identifying gaps and focusing on capacity building, we aim to ensure that every member of the civil service is empowered to perform at their best.”
