The Public Service Institute of Nigeria (PSIN) has sought stronger collaboration with the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC) to enhance retirement preparation training for civil servants and improve overall public service delivery.
The Administrative Chief Executive Officer of PSIN, Imeh Okon, led a delegation from the institute on a courtesy visit to the Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission, Tunji Olaopa, in Abuja.
During the meeting, both institutions discussed strategies to strengthen collaboration in manpower development and capacity building for civil servants across ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs).
In his remarks, Olaopa emphasized the important role of Manpower Development Institutes in strengthening professionalism and improving the capacity of public servants within government institutions.
He highlighted ongoing reforms aimed at reskilling civil servants, promoting competency-based human resource management, and aligning public service skills with global standards and emerging technological demands.
The FCSC chairman also stressed the need for clear and complementary roles among government training institutions. According to him, the current reform vision seeks to transform the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON) into a School of Government, while PSIN focuses on developing bureaucratic and leadership competencies within the civil service.
Olaopa further underscored the importance of conducting regular Training Needs Assessments to guide course development, evaluate training impact, and ensure that capacity-building programmes deliver measurable results.
He also suggested integrating training-based confidential assessments into promotion and career progression, similar to the staff and command training model used in the military, to enhance staff performance after undergoing training.
Earlier in her remarks, Okon explained that the visit was aimed at updating the commission on PSIN’s programmes and exploring areas of collaboration to strengthen service delivery.
She also advocated the introduction of structured pre-retirement training programmes for civil servants to equip them with the skills needed to remain productive and competitive after leaving public service.
Okon was accompanied on the visit by senior PSIN officials, including the Strategic Adviser to the CEO, as well as heads of the Entrepreneurship and Commercial Orientation and Human Resource Management units.
The meeting concluded with the exchange of gifts between the leadership of the commission and the visiting PSIN delegation.