Enugu State Governor, Barr. Peter Mbah, represented by his Deputy, Barr. Ifeanyi Ossai, has urged public servants in the state to embrace innovative thinking, deepen communication with citizens, and remain committed to reforms aimed at transforming governance in the state.    

Barr. Ossai, made the call at the graduation ceremony of participants of the Enugu Leadership Masterclass, held in Enugu.

Addressing the graduands, Ossai, commended their dedication to service despise the demanding nature of their responsibilities, noting that the administration was aware of the sacrifices many public servants make to deliver results.

“The event we just witnessed speaks of excellence,” Ossai said, adding that working within the administration requires dedication and resilience. 

According to him, while the government recognises the pressure on officials, it remains committed to pushing for high standards to achieve the vision of building a new Enugu.

He noted that the state government embarked on reforms fully aware that transforming existing systems would not be easy. 

“When the governor set out to serve and we all joined to explain to Enugu people why we had to do this, we did not expect it was going to be easy,” he said. “We knew we were trying to alter the course of the system and practices that people had been used to for years.”

Ossai stressed that the most important outcome of the leadership training was the ability of participants to think critically and adopt new approaches to governance. “If you have done things in a certain way for so long without getting the desired results, it means the design life of what you have been doing has expired and it is time to try a new approach,” he stated.

He further emphasised the importance of communicating government policies and reforms to citizens across the state, especially in rural communities. According to him, while the government is implementing several initiatives, many citizens remain unaware of them due to gaps in communication. “We do so much but so little is communicated to those that should know,” Ossai said. “If the people don’t buy into what we do, we may labour in vain.” He therefore urged public servants and local government leaders to develop communication strategies that would translate government policies and economic concepts into simple language that ordinary citizens can understand.

The deputy governor also called for stronger outreach structures that would enable government messages and programmes to reach the most remote communities in Enugu State.

Highlighting the ongoing reforms in the public service, Ossai reiterated the administration’s commitment to improving efficiency and eliminating bureaucratic bottlenecks that slow down decision-making.

Drawing from his background in business and law, he said governance must focus on delivering results for the people. “When the governor sets a task, we want results,” he said, noting that existing administrative procedures must not become obstacles to effective governance.

He also urged civil service leadership to work with relevant authorities to find innovative ways of improving operational efficiency, including the effective adoption of digital systems introduced under the administration’s e-governance reforms.

Ossai commended the Secretary to the State Government and the leadership of the civil service for initiating the leadership training programme, describing it as a vital step toward building a more responsive and performance-driven public service. He encouraged the graduates to remain resilient in the face of criticism, stressing that reforms often attract scrutiny. “If you think that you will do this job and you won’t be criticised, then maybe you should consider selling ice cream,” he said.

The Enugu Leadership Masterclass is part of the state government’s broader efforts to strengthen leadership capacity within the public service and equip officials with the skills required to deliver the administration’s development agenda.