Agency conducts research on skill gaps, skills shortage
NAN-HE- 11
Research
By Cecilia Ologunagba
Abuja, April 24, 2017 (NAN) Dr Kabir Usman, Director General, Centre for Management Development (CMD), says the agency is conducting a research to identity skills gaps and skills shortage in the country.
The News Agency of Nigeria, (NAN) reports that CMD is established by the Federal Government as the operational arm of the Nigerian Council for Management Development.
This is an agency under the Ministry of Budget and National Planning.
Usman, who disclosed this is in a statement by Alhaji Abdulkadir Ahmed on Monday in Abuja, said the agency had been to all the states in the country to collect data on the research.
“We are now analysing them, we will harmonise the results and give our recommendations and point out the issues in capacity gaps for the states.
“We will do that against the 2018 budget for the Federal Government and later produce one single document to show the capacity gap in terms of skills in Nigeria for the public sector.
“When that is done, I want the next DG to carry the banner and do that for the private sector as well.’’
Usman said the agency had conducted capacity building programme for the civil servants in Gombe State and it would be replicated in all the states across the country.
“We have done that in Kano, Katsina, Kogi, in areas of projects management and so on and so forth.
“I just came back from Enugu, where the CMD trained all the 47 Permanent Secretaries in that state on Public Service Rules and on Values and Ethics, because we felt they are all important.
“In dealing with ethics, we tackle the issue of corruption, security and the infrastructure.”
According to him, the agency is also working hard to address the challenges faced by management consultants, while a brochure and a spreadsheet to that effect had already been produced.
“It is not only for us, but for the management consultants to take and study them and pick up those areas, customise and or domesticate those types of trainings.
“They should also make sure we are using that as a platform to make sure that these are the areas where we need to address the manpower shortages in the country.”
In addition, Usman said the agency had presented training programmes proposal to the National Assembly for the members to be trained on them.
“We are planning to train them on Strategic Leadership and Change Management to tackle the issues of corruption, lack of infrastructure and so on and so forth.
“We also wrote to the political parties to acquaint them with our mandate and programmes.
“We requested to see their manifestoes; what were their promises (to the electorate) during the campaigns, what are now their commitments to the people and how are they going to translate that?
“For example, if you want to become a Senator or member, House of Representatives, then what are your roles?
“The same thing applies to those that are vying to become governor or councillor; then you have to know what will be your roles if elected.
“All these require prior training on management skills.”
Usman further said that the agency had also proposed training programmes to the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), to engage the staff in tutoring them on their responsibilities.
“We are interested in knowing if there is a synergy between INEC and the political parties and also the electorate, ” he said. (NAN)
CIA/KOLE/IA
==========
Edited by Remi Koleoso/Idris Abdulrahman