By Kenneth Orusi, Managing Editor
The Head of Service of Delta State, Dr. (Mrs.) Mininim Oseji, has highlighted a series of reforms and innovative programmes introduced by her administration to modernize the state civil service, strengthen workforce productivity and position public service delivery for greater efficiency and global competitiveness.
Speaking on Monday June 22, 2026, during activities marking the 2026 Delta State Civil Service Week in Asaba, Dr. Oseji said the initiatives were designed to drive digital transformation, improve staff welfare, deepen capacity building and prepare the Delta State Civil Service for the demands of a rapidly evolving world.
According to her, one of the major reforms introduced by her office is the digitalization of public service operations through master training and training-of-trainers programmes focused on digital skills development.
“The initiatives that were newly introduced are digitalization through master training and training of trainers on digitalization, optimization of virtual training, social media etiquette and the use of Google tools for assessment of performance,” she stated.
The Head of Service disclosed that the office also introduced transportation support for staff through the deployment of a 30-seater Coaster bus and a 12-seater Peugeot Expert bus to ease movement to and from work.
“TAM Transport Support Team is using the 30-seater Coaster bus and the 12-seater Peugeot Expert bus, which transports staff to and from work along the Okpanam–Abraka Junction and Ibusa Road axis for staff of the Office of the Head of Service.
“I wish to use this opportunity to call on other establishments and heads of MDAs to follow the example of the Office of the Head of Service and provide similar support for their staff.”
Dr. Oseji explained that her administration has also prioritized continuous learning and professional development through the establishment of structures to coordinate meetings, incentives, conferences and events, while encouraging regular in-house training programmes.
She said capacity-building efforts have covered areas such as agriculture, drip irrigation farming, etiquette, analytics, attitudinal change, grant writing, scholarship acquisition, estate management, research ethics, financial literacy, event planning and video content creation.
“We have promoted the organization of in-house capacity-building sessions and strengthened departments of planning, research and statistics.
“We have also facilitated physical and virtual training on agriculture, including drip irrigation farming, etiquette, analytics, attitudinal change, grant writing, obtaining scholarships, estate management, financial literacy, event planning and video content creation.”
The Head of Service further disclosed that the office engaged volunteers from the Nigeria National Volunteer Service and provided agricultural inputs to civil servants to encourage farming and support food security initiatives.
She added that book review sessions have also been introduced to encourage reading and intellectual development among workers.
In a bid to reward excellence and inspire healthy competition, Dr. Oseji announced the institution of performance-based awards within the Office of the Head of Service.
“We instituted a prize of N200,000 for the most effective department in the Office of the Head of Service. This prize was presented on the day I marked one year in office, on April 10, 2026.
“We also instituted a prize of N200,000 for the Best Civil Servant Farmer, and this will be presented during a dinner scheduled for June 30, 2026.”
She revealed that the office has sponsored staff for financial counselling programmes and commenced the upgrade of the Delta State Staff Training Centre as part of a broader vision to build a world-class training institution.
“One of the goals of the Office of the Head of Service for the year 2026 is to upgrade the Staff Training Centre to become the Nigerian version of the Civil Service College in Singapore.
“In Singapore, civil servants are disciplined, digitally driven and citizen-focused. They have made giant strides in strengthening the civil service to become a global role model.”
Dr. Oseji expressed confidence that the ongoing transformation would position the Delta State Staff Training Centre as a leading destination for public sector capacity building.
“We are convinced that the Delta State Staff Training Centre will stand out as a destination for 21st-century capacity building in the public service through the establishment of an ICT hub, collaboration with external training firms, provision of state-of-the-art training equipment and beautification of the centre’s premises.”
She disclosed that the implementation of the vision commenced on May 12, 2026, with the first of three major training programmes.
“I am very proud to say that on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, we began the journey to achieving that goal with the organization of the first of three training programmes, namely Digital Transformation, Electronic Records Management and E-Governance 101.
“We still have two more programmes coming up, Research, Planning and Statistical Systems for the MORE Agenda, as well as Advanced Secretarial Studies and Office Administration.”
The Head of Service also announced the establishment of a pilot ICT hub in her office as a precursor to statewide digital transformation.
“Some other goals for the year 2026 that have been achieved include the establishment of a pilot ICT hub in the Office of the Head of Service, which will later be scaled up to other offices, Secretariat and local government headquarters.
“We are also looking forward to facilitating statewide digitalization and cascading civil and public service reforms to local governments through collaboration with the Directorate of Local Government Affairs and the Local Government Service Commission.”
Dr. Oseji expressed profound appreciation to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori for the confidence reposed in her and for supporting the reforms introduced under her administration.
“I wish to appreciate His Excellency, the Governor of Delta State, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, for giving me the opportunity to serve Deltans in this highly esteemed office of the Head of Service.
“From him, I have learned the politics of good governance, which has strengthened my resolve to continue to be a voice for the voiceless, as the majority of my efforts are for those who have no godfather or godmother to lobby for them.”
She also commended the governor for approving and releasing funds for the successful hosting of the 2026 Civil Service Week celebration.
“I am also grateful to the Governor for the timely approval and release of funds for us to celebrate in a most elaborate way the 2026 Civil Service Week in Delta State.”
The Head of Service equally acknowledged the support of Permanent Secretaries, heads of extra-ministerial departments, directors, staff and members of the Central Planning Committee for contributing to the success of the reforms and programmes implemented by her office.
“My thanks go to the College of Permanent Secretaries, heads of extra-ministerial departments and other MDAs, as well as directors and staff of both directorates and the Office of the Head of Service for their support.
“I also sincerely appreciate the Central Planning Committee for their spectacular organization of all aspects of the Civil Service Week celebration.”This version contains substantially more direct quotes and reads like a standard government/PR newsroom report.
