Capacity building is critical, says PMO PS

Dawda Fadera, permanent secretary at the Personnel Management Office (PMO), has said capacity building is critical, noting that no public services anywhere in the world can function effectively without adequate capacity.

He made this remark at the closing ceremony of the 16th edition of in-services training for record personnel, organized by the National Record Services (NRS) held at the school of the deaf in Kanifing.

He went further to lament on the important role of record personnel in public services, which is very critical.  

He also stated that public services is a multi-sectoral issue, adding that record management is one of the critical issues of public services.

“No institution or department can function effectively without the inputs of the record personnel, so for government to spend money in training record personnel is a worthy course,” he said.

He went further to thank the director of the NRS, for the concern she has for record personnel who are entrusted with very vital government information, describing her as a lady of integrity, and with passion for her job and the record personnel services.

He added that record management is very critical as information is power. He advised the participants to maintain integrity and confidentiality and ensure records entrusted to them confidentially are well kept.

He also said the Gambian leader has high regard for record management services, which is why they are entrusted with so many confidential files or information that need to be well kept.   

He thanked the NRS for successfully completing a five-week training, while urging its members to safeguard government confidential files.

He also advised the participants to apply the knowledge gained during the five weeks on the job adequately.

For her part, the director of NRS, Elizabeth Bahoum, said the training was key in that it was part of government’s continued effort at building and consolidating the much needed capacity in the civil service as well as enhance quality and performance of record personnel.

She also used the opportunity to thank the permanent secretary of the PMO for ensuring the training was realised, especially for providing the funding for record personnel.

She also hailed the Gambian leader for providing the National Record Services with three brand new pickup vehicles to enhance the service delivery system.