By Ben Agande, Abuja.

President Goodluck Jonathan has tasked the new Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Alhaji Bukar Goni Aji to enhance discipline and curtail corruption in the service.

Swearing in the new Head of Service at the state House Monday, President Jonathan said  the expectation of his government and the people of Nigeria is for the new Head of Service to focus on those areas that are most important to the lives of the people.

According to President  Jonathan, the civil service  is very central to the realization of his administration’s transformation agenda and urged the HoS to bring his vast experience to bear on the realisation of the dreams of government.

” In particular, you must focus on those sectors that will help the administration to deliver with urgency benefits which are the core of our survival as a people such as agriculture, infrastructure, education, health amongst others.

“You must also pursue with vigor the true implementation of the performance management system in the civil service. I believe it’s  full implementation will positively improve the ability of civil servants to discharge their responsibilities. I also expect that you will intensify your efforts to enhance discipline and curtail corruption in the service” the president charged him.

The Head of Service to the Federation, Alhaji Goni Aji and President Goodluck Jonathan during the sweairing in, Monday, at the Aso Chambers, State House, Abuja. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida.

The President however, expressed his  appreciation to the immediate past head of civil service, Isa Bello Sali for his service to the nation and charged him and other retired heads of service who also attended the swearing-in to extend their support to Goni Aji.

Speaking with state House correspondents after his swearing in, the new head of civil service said his  immediate priority was  to reposition the Civil Service for the attainment of the objectives under the transformation agenda of government.  “we will emphasise on fast-tracking the processes to ensure that there are concrete outcomes for our people to see. ”

On the issue of Job racketeering, Aji said it was not unique to the civil service pointing out that “just like any other sector of the economy, you must know “there are syndicates and crooks who tap into the websites of agencies that are not even known to those agencies and before you know it, unsuspecting Nigerians are found in the hands of those dubious characters”.