FG to begin staff productivity audit with interior ministry

By Innocent Raphael

The federal government has announced plans to initiate a comprehensive workers’ productivity audit, commencing with the Ministry of Interior.

Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo made the disclosure on Tuesday during the fifth National Productivity Summit, highlighting the urgent need to enhance productivity levels, particularly within the civil service.

This development follows the government’s recent disclosure of plans to implement an innovative wage system in the civil service that ties compensation to employee productivity.

Minister Tunji-Ojo instructed the Director General of the National Productivity Centre, Dr. Nasir Raji-Mustapha, to immediately begin the productivity audit and gap analysis for workers in the agencies under his jurisdiction.

The minister also criticized the National Productivity Centre for its inadequate performance in fulfilling its mandate, pointing out that the organization has achieved less than 10 percent of its potential to enhance business operations and workforce productivity.

Emphasizing the role of technology in improving productivity, Tunji-Ojo shared how his ministry successfully cleared a backlog of 204,000 international passports using automated processes since he took office in 2023.

“We adopted what I call the hybrid approach,” he explained.

“To be efficient and productive, you must combine technology with human factors. Neglecting either will trap you in a vicious cycle. A motivated workforce complemented by technological innovation can significantly boost productivity and yield higher returns on investment,” the minister added.

The federal government’s forthcoming productivity audit aims to address these issues and foster a more efficient civil service.