Delta Civil Service to Deepen Reforms, Promote Excellence as 2026 Service Week Begins

By Judith Nkwor/ Jennifer Eziashi

The Delta State Head of Service, Dr. (Mrs.) Mininim Oseji, has reaffirmed the state’s commitment to strengthening the public service through reforms, innovation, and improved service delivery.

Speaking during a press briefing to mark the commencement of the 2026 Civil Service Week in Asaba on Monday, Oseji said the annual celebration provides an opportunity to reflect on achievements within the public service and renew commitment to effective governance.

She noted that this year’s theme, “Reforms, Resilience and Results,” highlights the government’s determination to build a more responsive, accountable, and efficient civil service capable of meeting the needs of citizens.

According to her, ongoing efforts are focused on modernizing government operations through digital transformation, capacity building, enhanced collaboration among Ministries, Departments and Agencies, as well as the promotion of merit and professionalism across the service.

The Head of Service disclosed that several activities have been lined up for the week-long celebration, including a public lecture, quiz competition, sporting events, and an award ceremony aimed at recognizing outstanding civil servants and encouraging excellence in service.

She emphasized that the ultimate goal of the reforms is to deliver measurable results across critical sectors such as education, healthcare, environmental management, and economic development.

Oseji further described the public service as the engine room of government, stressing that its effectiveness remains vital to the successful implementation of policies and programmes that improve the lives of the people.

The 2026 Civil Service Week celebration is expected to bring together public servants, government officials, and stakeholders to celebrate achievements and explore strategies for building a more resilient and future-ready civil service in Delta State.

On achievements recorded since assuming office 14 months ago, the Head of Service, Dr. Mininim Oseji, disclosed that her administration had successfully revived several initiatives aimed at improving professionalism, discipline, and engagement within the Delta State Public Service.

Among the programmes reintroduced are the Bureaucrat Publication, the Civil Service Week Celebration, the Breakfast Dialogue initiative, courtesy visits by retired Permanent Secretaries, the revised dress code policy, and the reactivation of the time-book system to monitor punctuality and attendance among workers.

Dr. Oseji also highlighted a number of new initiatives introduced by her office to modernize and strengthen service delivery. These include an extensive digitalization drive involving master training programmes, virtual learning sessions, social media engagement, and the use of digital assessment tools to evaluate staff performance.

She further revealed that the Office of the Head of Service had introduced a Staff Transport Support Scheme through dedicated buses operating along major routes within Asaba and its environs, easing transportation challenges for civil servants. 

She encouraged other government establishments with transport facilities to adopt similar initiatives for their workforce.

Other notable interventions, according to her, include the establishment of the Head of Service Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Events (MICE) Committee to coordinate major official engagements, the promotion of in-house capacity-building programmes, and efforts to strengthen Planning, Research and Statistics Departments across Ministries, Departments and Agencies.

The Head of Service added that civil servants have also benefited from several physical and virtual training programmes covering areas such as agriculture, drip irrigation, grant writing, financial literacy, scholarship opportunities, estate management, event planning, research ethics, autism awareness, etiquette, attitudinal change, and digital content creation.

She maintained that these initiatives are geared towards building a more skilled, innovative, and efficient public service capable of meeting the evolving needs of government and citizens