The Honourable Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi SAN, has affirmed that the Federal Ministry of Justice welcomes openness to evaluation of its performance.
The HAGF made this known following an official visit of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF), Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan, CFR, the incoming the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, OON and other Permanent Secretaries to the Ministry on 18th July, 2024
Fagbemi, SAN who expressed his delight at the presence of the Head of Civil Service in the Ministry, emphasized the importance of firsthand observation. He stated, “I am delighted to have the Head of Civil Service here; it has always been my belief that actions speak louder than words. Seeing things firsthand is invaluable. Ma’am, what could we have done differently to match what you observed? This is our approach, transparent and grounded in reality, not mere rhetoric.”
While acknowledging the leadership and mentorship style of Dr. Yemi-Esan, the HAGF said that, “Your reputation precedes you. Your visit today, focused on staff welfare, exemplifies your commitment to improving our operations.”
In her remark, Dr. Folashade Yemi-Esan, highlighted significant improvements observed within the ministry. “We have noted substantial progress at the Ministry of Justice. In 2023, the ministry achieved an average score of 61%, which has risen to 74% in the first quarter of 2024—an impressive improvement. While other ministries are consolidating, the Ministry of Justice is ascending. I hope to see even greater strides towards excellence.”
She emphasized on the importance of robust Performance Management Systems and ethical assessments, urging supervisors to defend performance evaluations rigorously. She stressed the need to prioritize staff welfare and celebrate Civil Servants’ contributions.
The Solicitor General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Justice, Mrs. Beatrice Jedy-Agba, OON, mni, gave report on FCSSIP25 Milestone Achievements and the ongoing initiatives in the FMOJ; such as capacity building, talent management, and the implementation of innovative Public-Private Partnership arrangements for publishing legal documents.
According to her, ‘’the ministry has made giant strides in enhancing staff welfare, including establishing a crèche, staff canteen, gym facilities, and renovating the Olusegun Obasanjo Hall—a central hub for ministry’s activities”.
During the question and answer session, the incoming Head of Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, OON, who is visiting for the first time after her appointment, appraised the ministry for its various initiatives. She however noted, that the Freedom of Information (FOI) units in many ministries are not situated within the legal departments, which contributes to a general lack of public awareness about the FOI Act.
Mrs. Walson-Jack stated, “I have observed that in the ministries I have worked with, the Freedom of Information unit is usually not part of the Legal Departments. This placement leads to lack of understanding about the unit’s purpose and responsibilities, and there is resistance to moving it to the legal unit.”
She continued, “While I commend you for your recent workshop on the Freedom of Information Act for legal officers, I urge you to inform MDAs that the FOI unit should be housed within the Legal Department. This is crucial because the legal implications require it, and placing it elsewhere will not provide the necessary attention it deserves’’.
Earlier in her welcome speech, the Director, Planning, Research, and Statistics, Mrs. Victoria Ojogbane stated that the Ministry noted Dr. Yemi-Esan’s drive towards improvement of the Civil Service of the Federation and emphasis on developing the service leveraging on: Culture Change, Change Management, Partnership, Data Analytics, Digital Skills, Conducive Work Environment, Consequent Management, Monitoring and Evaluation, Effective Communication, Political Buying, Inclusive Engagement, Improved Funding and Timely Release of Fund to Ministry’s Departments and Agencies of Government, to improve Governance for effective service delivery.
According to her, “the culmination of your efforts is best exemplified by the inclusion in the Service Wide Deliverable for all MDAs as an indicator to report quarterly on Performance Management System (PMS), and Enterprises Content Management (ECM).
She added that the robust implementation of the FCSSIP25 Pillars would ensure the fulfillment of the dream of having a digitally motivated service, with an improved Culture of Accountability, Meritocracy, Professionalism, Loyalty and Efficiency.
The event was an opportunity for Officials of the OHCSF to inspect some of the FMOJ Projects.
Also in attendance at the event were Directors, Special Assistants to the HAGF, SGF/PS, Key Officials, Union leaders of the Ministry amongst others.