By: Aishat Ohunene Yusuf
The Kogi State Head of Civil Service, Dr. Elijah A. Evinemi, FCA, on Thursday, 11 December 2025, appeared before the House Committee on Establishment, Training, Pension and Public Service to defend the Office’s 2026 budget proposals at the Kogi State House of Assembly Complex, Lokoja.
In his opening remarks, Dr. Evinemi expressed profound gratitude for the opportunity to present the Office’s 2025 performance report and its financial projections for the 2026 fiscal year. He commended the Committee for its consistent support, noting that their collaboration has continued to strengthen human-resource management processes and enhance public service reforms under the administration of His Excellency, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, FCA.
Dr. Evinemi reiterated that the Office of the Head of Civil Service remains pivotal to human-resource administration, policy implementation, career development, administrative coordination and inter-agency synergy. He reaffirmed the Office’s dedication to upholding global best practices while ensuring an efficient, professional and result-driven civil service.
Highlighting key achievements recorded in the 2025 fiscal year, the Head of Service noted:
Successful hosting of the inaugural State Civil Service Week, featuring Public Service Excellence Awards, workshops, tree planting, novelty match, medical outreach and drug distribution. The event promoted professionalism and celebrated the contributions of civil servants to state development.
Deployment of the Online Workers’ Information Records System, a digital platform for capturing, updating and managing workers’ data. He emphasized that the ongoing digitalization project is building a reliable, unified and verifiable employee database to support accountability and informed decision-making.
As well as implementation of vital reforms, including the performance-management framework, expanded capacity-building programmes and strengthened inter-agency collaboration across MDAs.
Presenting the 2026 budget proposals, Dr. Evinemi explained that the new fiscal plan aims to consolidate current reforms while addressing critical needs. Priority areas include:
Full operationalization and maintenance of the online workers-information database;
Renovation of the Secretariat Conference Hall;
Expansion and modernization of the Staff Development Centre;
Recruitment of additional junior staff to mitigate manpower shortages across MDAs.
He, however, appealed for favourable consideration by the Committee, noting persistent challenges affecting optimal performance, such as inadequate funds for key programmes, the need to upgrade the Staff Development Centre into a full Public Service Institute, under-staffing particularly within the junior cadre, and the deteriorating physical state of the State Secretariat Complex.
Responding, the Chairman of the House Committee on Establishment, Hon. Abbas Ibrahim, commended Dr. Evinemi for his clarity, professionalism and the significant strides recorded by the Office in the outgone year. He acknowledged the tangible impact of the reforms spearheaded by the Head of Service, especially in digital transformation, capacity building and policy coordination.
The Chairman assured that the Committee will give fair and favourable consideration to the 2026 budget proposals, adding that strengthening the Civil Service is essential for sustaining the administration’s development agenda. He reaffirmed the Committee’s readiness to continue working closely with the Office of the Head of Civil Service to address identified challenges and enhance productivity across MDAs.
Dr. Evinemi expressed appreciation to the Chairman and members of the Committee for their unwavering support and expressed optimism that the timely passage of the 2026 Budget Estimates will further boost efficiency, deepen reforms and improve service delivery in Kogi State.
The budget defence session was attended by the top management of the Office of the Head of Civil Service and members of the House Committee, who pledged continued collaboration toward a more efficient and effective public service.
Information Officer, OHOCS
