By Nura Bala Ajingi, Kano
No fewer than 500 senior civil servants in Kano State, who are due for promotion to Grade Level 14, have commenced a two-week training programme organized by the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON) in Kano.
Declaring the 24th edition of the training open, the Governor of Kano State, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, said the government decided to restore the ASCON training and examination scheme for senior civil servants in the state to enhance their administrative competence and promote effective service delivery.
Represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Umar Farouk Ibrahim, the Governor explained that the renewed collaboration with ASCON is part of his administration’s efforts to ensure quality public service and improve governance outcomes.
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He commended the Head of Civil Service, Alhaji Abdullahi Musa, for his commitment to reviving the programme, which he said would enable civil servants to acquire better leadership and management skills.
Alhaji Farouk urged participants to make the best use of the opportunity by attending all sessions and participating actively to gain the needed knowledge for efficient service delivery.
In his remarks, the Head of Civil Service, Alhaji Abdullahi Musa, expressed appreciation to Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf for approving the resumption of ASCON training in Kano, emphasizing that the programme would greatly benefit the state’s workforce across various sectors.
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He noted that the ASCON training and examination had been suspended for several years by the previous administration, prompting his office to seek its revival to prepare upcoming leaders in the civil service for greater responsibilities.
Musa also warned participants to be punctual and disciplined throughout the training period to ensure its objectives are achieved.
In a goodwill message, the Director-General of ASCON, Funke Femi Adepoju, represented by the Director of Training, Mr. Babatunde Eni, said the college, established in 1973, remains a foremost training institution in Nigeria, providing professional and administrative capacity-building for public servants across the country.
She expressed ASCON’s appreciation to the Kano State Government and the Head of Civil Service for rekindling their partnership, assuring that the college would deliver top-quality training to all participants.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Head of Civil Service in charge of Human Resources Development, Alhaji Salahuddeen Habib Isa, revealed that about 500 civil servants were selected to attend the training.
He also thanked Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf for his commitment to revitalizing the ASCON programme, which had been neglected for many years.
The event, held at the School of Arabic Studies (SAS) in Kano, featured goodwill messages from notable dignitaries, including the Chairperson of the Kano State Civil Service Commission, Hajiya Ladidi Ibrahim Garko; the Special Adviser to the Governor on Labour Matters, Comrade Baffa Sani Gaya.
Others include the Chairman of the Association of Former Heads of Service and Permanent Secretaries, Alhaji Ishak Mahmoud; and the Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Kano Chapter, Comrade Kabiru M. Inuwa.
All speakers commended the government’s decision to reinstate the ASCON training, describing it as a crucial step toward improving the efficiency and professionalism of the state’s civil service.
