Government’s policy analysts must be ready to solve problems – Ambode

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode on Monday said policy analysts under government’s employ must be ready to assist government in solving its problems and challenges.

The governor spoke at a training programme for civil servants, titled: “Policy Analysis, Development and Implementation for Policy Analysts and Developers in the Lagos State Public Service,” held in Ikeja, Lagos, Southwest Nigeria.

Ambode, who was represented by the Commissioner for Establishments, Training and Pensions, Dr. Benson Oke said governments were repeatedly confronted with problems that called for apt and appropriate solutions.

“In the times we live in, these problems have taken on complex characteristics and features. Also, they usually demand urgent attention and response. Thus, the government of a metropolitan state such as Lagos State (which is also a global city) cannot afford not to have a pool of skilled, trained and current policy analysts and developers who will assist the government in designing the right, appropriate and suitable answers to these complex and urgent problems.

“Thus, given the dynamic and complex nature and characteristics of the problems that confront policy analysts and developers, the rationale for this training cannot but be acknowledged,” he said.

The governor said he had made it clear to the Ministry of Establishments, Training, and Pensions that the mandate to train and re-train officers of the public service must not only be executed, but must also be dynamically executed in such a fashion as to ensure that officers of the Lagos State Public Service were equipped with the most current skills and knowledge necessary to assist the government in the discharge of its sacred constitutional and democratic duties.

“Without doubt, those involved in the public policy process need to possess strong analytical skills and the ability to apply a variety of research and evaluation methods within a complex political and economic environment.

“I exhort public policy analysts and developers in the Lagos State Public Service to learn to focus quickly on the central decision criterion (or criteria) of the problem requiring attention. I exhort public policy analysts and developers in the Lagos State Public Service to avoid the Tool-box Approach to analysing policies.

“We are well aware that some disciplines specify analytical routines in detail for many circumstances. This may encourage some people to begin work on a policy problem because it lends itself to their favourite method. I also exhort public policy analysts and developers in the Lagos State Public Service to learn to deal with uncertainty,” he said.