The Minister of Foreign Affairs Ministry, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, on Thursday expressed optimism that Performance Management System (PMS) will strengthen the Ministry's role as a model of progressive diplomacy and advancing Nigeria's global standing.
To this end, he urged all staff members to fully embrace the change, and work collaboratively to institutionalize PMS.
He made the remark while speaking at launch and sensitization of PMS in the ministry.
He said "It is a privilege to join you today for the launch and sensitization of the Performance Management System (PMS) in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs a transformative initiative aimed at enhancing efficiency, accountability, and professionalism across the civil service.
"The PMS represents a bold step toward aligning our institutional goals with national priorities, fostering a culture of meritocracy, and ensuring fairness in performance evaluation by introducing regular periodic performance appraisals and dialogue, implementing effective incentive and consequence management systems and also introducing performance improvement plans that incorporate employee development objectives and management component like, career objectives, interest, motivation in performance plans.
"This is critical to strengthening our Ministry's role as a model of progressive diplomacy and advancing Nigeria's global standing.
"As we embark on this journey, I urge all staff members to fully embrace this change, working collaboratively to institutionalize PMS.
"Together, we can create a culture of continuous improvement and innovation, ensuring that our Ministry remains a beacon of excellence in public service." he added
Urging staff to remain steadfast in their commitment to the initiative, the Minister charged them to leverage on it in order to achieve greater heights for the Ministry and Nigeria.
In his opening remarks, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Ambassador Dunoma Umar Ahmed, noted that performance management is the cornerstone of a deliberate effort by the government to ensure that the civil/public service operates at the highest standards of efficiency and effectiveness.
The system, he said, is a medium by which the workforce can accurately be assessed, guided, their performances enhanced and individual contributions aligned with overall national goals.
He said "The Honourable Minister, Honourable Minister of State and I are committed to creating an environment where all officers in the Ministry feel valued, supported, and inspired to excel.
"This involves setting clear performance expectations and providing the necessary resources, training, and opportunities for personnel and organizational development.
"It is our responsibility to recognize and reward outstanding performance while addressing areas that require improvement with constructive feedback and support.
"Our civil service, in keeping pace with efficiency-driven global landscape has responded with landmark reforms that are evolving for effective service delivery."
He said the ministry must remain proactive, and forward- thinking to ensure full alignment with the Performance Management System of the Federal Civil Service.
"As the saying goes, change is constant and it is the driving force that propels society forward. In line with this principle, I am honoured to declare our commitment to the Performance Management System, a key component of the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan (FCSSIP 2021-2025) and an integral part of the National Development Plan (NDP 2021-2025).
"This initiative is designed to integrate and institutionalize a scientific, data- driven approach based on evidence to evaluate and advance the capabilities of civil servants, strengthening both our civil service and our nation as a whole towards development."
The performance Management System, the Perm Sec, pointed out is a significant policy shift within the civil service, replacing the former Annual Performance Evaluation Report (APER).
The PMS aims to: Develop a result-driven, accountable and high-performance culture in public service;
"Align Ministry's Strategic Plan with government priorities and the National Development Plan (2021-2025);
"Improve efficiency at all levels by cascading institutional accountability throughout the civil service;
"Incorporate a merit-driven culture in the civil service;
"Minimize subjectivity, rating biases, and favouritism in appraisals to promote fairness and transparency in performance evaluation, while;
"Providing an effective framework for monitoring, reporting and feedback.
"As we embark on this journey, it is imperative to emphasize the core values that fortify our civil service as specified in the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan 2021 2025 (FCSSIP25):
"Accountability, - meritocracy, Professionalism, loyalty and Efficiency."
These values, he said, are in line with the vision and Mission of FCSSIP25, guide actions and decisions, ensuring that Nigerians are served with dedication and honour.
The Perm Sec also informed the gathering that Thursdays have been recognized service-wide as PMS day.
"Therefore, officers and PMS champions issued with branded PMS T-shirts and face caps and expected to wear them every Thursday." he stated
He went on "Let us leverage this platform to foster a continuous learning and innovation culture, driving our Ministry towards greater heights of excellence.
"By embracing a culture of continuous improvement, transparent evaluation and strategic alignment, we ensure that our Ministry remains a model of professionalism and progressive diplomacy.
"Together, let us embark on this journey towards transformation, commitment, and unparalleled achievement as the image maker of the country."
