As part of it’s efforts to strengthening public service delivery and entrenching a result-driven governance culture in the state,.Enugu State Government, Tuesday, commenced a four-day onboarding retreat for Permanent Secretaries and Auditors-General
The retreat with the theme, “Strategic Policy Alignment and Disruptive Innovation,” organised by the Office of the Head of Service is aimed at equipping top civil servants with the skills and mindset required to effectively implement the policy direction of Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah’s administration.
L-R Head of Service,Dr Godwin Anigbo, and SSG, Prof Chidiebere Onyia
Declaring the retreat open, Governor Mbah, represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, said the programme was designed to deepen the participants’ understanding of his administration’s vision, governing philosophy, and implementation framework.
According to the governor, the retreat seeks to align the “engine room” of government with his administration’s reform agenda, stressing that effective governance depends largely on a professional, innovative, and accountable civil service.
SSG, Prof Chidiebere Onyia presenting a Keynote address
In his keynote paper titled “A Deep Dive into the Vision and Governing Philosophy of Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah,” the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Onyia spoke on redefining governance in the 21st century, noting that modern governance must be driven by clarity of vision, data-driven decision-making, and measurable outcomes.
He emphasised that government must move from being a passive regulator to an active enabler of development, particularly in the area of human capital, adding that policies must be executed with speed, discipline, and precision.
From L-R Rector IMT,, Prof SSG, Prof Onyia and Head of Service, Dr..Anigbo
Prof. Onyia explained that the retreat was structured to align Permanent Secretaries and Auditors-General with the administration’s governance philosophy, performance-tracking model, and feedback-driven policy implementation process.
He noted that the exercise would also provide clarity on government targets while reinforcing the role of Permanent Secretaries as critical drivers of policy execution across ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs).
Speaking further on strategic frameworks and evidence-based policymaking, the SSG stressed the importance of strategic planning, operational efficiency, meritocracy, respect for human dignity, and openness to assessment. He also underscored the need for effective data collection and analysis as tools for informed decision-making.
Participants with the SSG(m)
He charged participants to uphold the core values of transparency, accountability, and inclusiveness while developing policy action plans aimed at eliminating bureaucratic bottlenecks, cutting down “red tape,” and improving service delivery across MDAs.
The SSG said the retreat would culminate in actionable policy frameworks designed to replace inefficient processes with streamlined and transparent “green tape” systems.
Participants at the training
He expressed the confidence that the retreat would position the Enugu State Civil Service as a modern, innovation-driven institution capable of delivering the administration’s development targets and sustaining governance reforms beyond the present tenure.
Prof Onyia added that the initiative reflects the state government’s deliberate commitment to building strong institutions through a resilient, highly skilled civil service, noting that Permanent Secretaries must take full ownership of policy implementation, communication, and service delivery.. They should make policy interactive and adaptive.
Head of Service, Dr. Godwin Anigbo Mni
Earlier in his welcome address, the Head of Service, Dr. Godwin Anigbo, Mni, described the retreat as a historic and strategic onboarding programme for senior public officers, stressing that there was no room for “business as usual” in the current governance dispensation.
“It projects the current thinking in the state that there is no room to sustain the status quo. We are here to align the machinery of the civil service with a “Disruptive Innovation” agenda that refuses to accept “business as usual,” he said.
According to him, “This agenda has moved beyond the theoretical concepts of a campaign manifesto and transformed into empirical, technology-driven policies rooted in sustainable development. The impact of this disruption is already being felt by our citizens, and it is our job to ensure that momentum is not only maintained but accelerated.”
SSG in a handshake with the Head of Service
Speaking further, the Head of Service said, “Today, Enugu State is no longer just competing nationally; we have aligned ourselves with a global sub-national trajectory, positioning our state as a premier hub for innovation in Nigeria and across the continent. Your position and role is a call to sustain this momentum and steady the ship. You are the drivers of this vehicle; if you do not align, the vision stalls.
“As Permanent Secretaries and the Auditor General, you are expected to embody the pillars of the state’s governing philosophy: Transparency, Accountability, and Inclusiveness. These values are the catalysts for the comprehensive civil service reforms currently underway.”,the Head of Service said.
I must be candid: This retreat is not one of those performative exercises. We are not here to merely mark attendance or enjoy the hospitality of the venue. We have assembled seasoned policy experts and crafted topics that demand your critical thinking and active participation.
” We are here to understand the basis of disruptive innovation, equip ourselves with the tools to lead a modern workforce and chart a bold course for our respective MDAs.
“Before we conclude this retreat, we have a mandate. We must collectively develop a Policy Action Plan. Our mission is to identify and cut through the “red tape”—those bureaucratic bottlenecks that stifle growth and delay service delivery. In their place, we must amplify and sustain the “green tape”—the streamlined, efficient, and transparent processes that enable innovation to thrive,” he said..
Expressing confidence that the retreat will yield fruitful result, the Head of Service said, “I am optimistic. I see in this room the intellectual capacity and the dedication required to transform Enugu State. Let us approach these sessions with an open mind and a resolve to lead with excellence.”
Dr. Anigbo disclosed that the state government had approved the establishment of a Public Service Training Institute — the first of its kind in the South-East — to drive continuous manpower development, policy research, and serve as a think-tank for government decision-making.
He noted that the retreat reflects the administration’s resolve to accelerate reforms, align the civil service with global best practices, and position Enugu State as a sub-national hub for innovation, excellence, and people-centred governance.
