In a bid to reduce delays experienced by retirees in their pension documentations, the Rivers State Head of Service (HOS), Samuel Longjohn has proposed the setting up of a ‘one-stop shop’ for pension documentation.

Mr. LongJohn, who made this known last Friday at a meeting he held with Staff of the Establishment, Training and Pension Bureau at the State Secretariat Complex in Port Harcourt, said already a committee had been set up in collaboration with the Civil Service Commission to work out modalities on its operation.

He disclosed that extant circulars guiding part time programmes, conversion, upgrading and other related matters would be printed in a handbook to enable workers have a thorough knowledge and interpretation of circulars.

“I want to see how we can put these circulars in a book form, to know what the circulars entail, by so doing we will know our rights,” he  said.

The Head of Service who called for a liberal interpretation of circulars, expressed displeasure at the unwarranted delays in processing documents of retirees as well as unnecessary hurdles imposed on workers through misinterpretation of circulars, pointing out that such actions had not only caused untold hardship but also dampened the morale of workers.

He lamented the poor state of furniture and other facilities in the department and promised to do something within the available resources to improve the work environment, while advising staff to put in their best and eschew absenteeism and indolence.

Responding to a request for additional grade level for staff of the department as applicable to counterparts in other Ministries, the Head of Service said such incentives are ‘cadre specific’ and not for all staff in a particular establishment” adding that a directive had been given by the State Governor to stop all such payments not covered by relevant circulars  and approvals.

On training and sponsorship of staff to attend  seminars and workshops, Mr. LongJohn said in view of the limited funds available for training, efforts would be made to organise in-house training for workers to keep them abreast of modern global best practices in service delivery.

While calling on workers to proffer ideas and suggestions on ways to improve the service , the Head of Service reiterated his desire to set up suggestion/complaint boxes to encourage workers to make input on ways of moving the service forward.

Earlier, the Permanent Secretary in the Establishment and Pension Bureau, Dr Rogers Weli had expressed gratitude to the Head of Service for the visit which he said was an indication of good things to come for staff of the department.

The meeting was preceded by an inspection tour of offices and facilities in the department.