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Ministry Of Works Begins Upskilling Programme For Staff

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja
    Engr David Umahi

The Federal Ministry of Works has commenced upskilling programme for its staff, aimed at transforming civil service for national development. 

Tagged Personnel Audit and Skills Gaps Analysis (PASGA), the event was declared open by the Director Overseeing the Office of the Permanent Secretary (DOOPS), Mr. Aliyu Abdullahi on Thursday in Abuja. 

The PASGA exercise, which is to be conducted in close collaboration with the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF), aims to revolutionise human capital management across the ministry and its agencies. 

It focuses on personnel verification, data collection, workforce optimisation, and organisational restructuring, laying the groundwork for a more productive and efficient service. It is also a landmark initiative for public sector reform.

The Project Manager, Coordinator and Lead Analyst for PASGA, Mr. Jonathan Yusuf emphasised the importance of the initiative, describing it as a bold and necessary step towards transforming the civil service, improving the workforce, and repositioning the country for sustainable development.

He listed the core objectives of PASGA as conducting a comprehensive personnel verification of all staff within the ministry, and performing a skills audit to determine areas of expertise and identify critical skills gaps. 

Also, enabling the ministry to realign its human resource capabilities with national infrastructure goals, and establishing an accurate, updated database of all civil servants, under the ministry of works.

"This is not just another routine audit but a strategic and transformative pillar of the civil service reform, especially as we prepare for 2026. Any member of staff, who absents from this exercise will be automatically considered not in the service," Yusuf warned.

Questionnaires will be distributed across all departments to assess staff performance and gather input for strategic workforce planning.

It was clearly emphasised that no new employment or wage approvals will be granted until the audit is completed, as the ministry is currently grappling with staff inadequacies. Agencies under the ministry have been mandated to register and capture every staff, ensuring that no personnel is left unverified.

The full implementation of PASGA will take place between October 20 and November 14, 2025, and will include physical verification and biometric capturing of staff, and document verification to update and authenticate personnel records. 

This is in addition to analysis of current workforce distribution in comparison to existing and future infrastructure demands.

The DOOPS, who doubles as the Director of Human Resource Management (DHRM), Mr. Abdullahi  reiterated the commitment of the ministry’s leadership towards the full success of PASGA. 

He urged all departments, units and agencies to prepare diligently and take ownership of the process.

"This exercise is not optional. It is the foundation to a stronger, smarter, and more accountable service. It is also a critical step in ensuring that the ministry is staffed with the right people in the right positions, delivering on the mandate of national development," he added.

He noted that beyond verification, PASGA will provide valuable insights into training needs, succession planning, and career development, helping to elevate the overall effectiveness of government operations.

In a vote of thanks, the Deputy Director of Appointment, Promotion and Discipline, Mr. Kabiru Bello expressed gratitude to the leadership of the ministry and all stakeholders for their commitment to transparency, reform, and national progress.

As a major milestone in civil service, the PASGA initiative is set to influence how personnel management is approached not only within the ministry of works but across the  Federal service architecture.

The flag-off was attended by the ministry’s officials, including directors, deputy directors, assistant directors, and other staff, who pledged their support for the success of PASGA. 

This was contained in a statement by the Director of Press and Public Relations, Mohammed Abdullahi Ahmed.

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