FCTA HEALTH SECRETARIAT MOVES TO STRENGTHEN SERVICOM COMPLIANCE, SERVICE DELIVERY
By: Vivian Adewoye
The Mandate Secretary of the Health Services and Environmental Secretariat, Dr. Dolapo Fasawe, has reaffirmed the commitment of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to improved service delivery across health facilities in the Territory.
Dr. Fasawe gave the assurance while receiving members of the FCTA Ministerial SERVICOM Unit, who paid a courtesy visit to her office to discuss strategies for strengthening SERVICOM implementation in health institutions within the FCT.
Commending the team for the visit, the Mandate Secretary pledged the Secretariat’s full support for the activities of SERVICOM, noting that the unit plays a critical role in promoting transparency, accountability and quality service delivery in public institutions.
She immediately directed the Director of Administration, Mr. Ghali Kassim, to ensure that a SERVICOM office is established within the Secretariat, with designated officers assigned to manage the desk and report directly to her office.
Dr. Fasawe stressed that the presence of a functional SERVICOM desk in health facilities would create an accessible platform for patients and other service users to lodge complaints, make inquiries and receive prompt responses to their concerns.
She also advised patients and members of the public to desist from making cash payments to individuals in hospitals, emphasizing that all payments must be made strictly at designated revenue collection points within health facilities.
Speaking earlier, the Head of the FCTA SERVICOM Unit and Nodal Officer, Mr. Tam Dokubo, explained that the visit was in line with the directive of the Honourable Minister of the FCT, who had instructed the unit to ensure that SERVICOM’s presence is visible across departments and that its regulations are strictly implemented by all FCTA staff.
According to him, the visit was also aimed at re-sensitizing staff of the Health Secretariat on the core principles of SERVICOM and strengthening mechanisms for improved service delivery in FCT health facilities.
On funding concerns raised by the SERVICOM team, Dr. Fasawe disclosed that there was no specific provision for SERVICOM activities in the current budget but assured that some resources would be made available from her office overhead to support the unit’s operations.
The Mandate Secretary also announced plans to introduce a “Best Staff of the Month” recognition initiative across health facilities under the Secretariat. She explained that the programme would cut across all cadres of staff, including junior workers, cleaners, drivers and other support staff, with outstanding personnel receiving a token reward for exemplary service.
According to her, the initiative is designed to encourage dedication, recognize hard work and motivate staff to improve their contributions to service delivery.
In his remarks, the Director of Administration of the Health Secretariat, Comrade Ghali Kassim, thanked the SERVICOM team for the visit and commended the Mandate Secretary for introducing the staff recognition initiative.
He noted that the programme aligns with Chapter Six of the 2021 Public Service Rules on reward and recognition for outstanding performance, which is intended to encourage improved productivity among public servants.
The Director of Nursing Services, Mrs. Ijeoma Jimi-Bada, delivered the vote of thanks and expressed appreciation to the SERVICOM team for the engagement.
