Officers whose schedule of duties includes drafting speeches in the Ogun Public Service have been charged to see speech writing as a very sensitive task that must be handled with extra care to avoid misinformation, as well as save the government from embarrassment.

The Head of Service, Dr. Nafiu Aigoro who stated this in Abeokuta, during a day in-house training workshop for some public officers on "Effective Speech Writing in The Public Service" organised by the Bureau of Establishments and Training, said through speech, that the intention of the government is communicated to the citizenry and there is a need to research and understand the subject matters to determine the purpose of writing.

Aigoro stated that the Service is determined to improve the skill of its workforce, particularly the schedule officers in order for them to be conversant with effective drafting of speech that makes a good presentation.

"An administration is assessed and weighed through the speeches of the Chief Executive. Speech writing is therefore a very sensitive task that must be handled with extra care, as it can make or mar any administration. Today's training is therefore an effort, aimed at ensuring that schedule officers have the necessary skills to draft speeches befitting Mr. Governor", he said.

Earlier in her address, the Permanent Secretary in the Bureau, Mrs. Lydia Fajounbo said the training was organised to improve speech writing skills and enhance productivity among Public Servants in the State, adding that the workshop was a step toward ensuring that concerned officers work in tandem with best global practice.  

In his presentation, one of the facilitators, who is also the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr. Kolawole Fagbohun, stated that a speech writer must have learning skills, be teachable, creative by thinking afresh, not be proud and avoid plagiarism which is an intellectual crime, advising the participants to always work with their principals or clients who have the final say on the speech.

 The participants in a communique at the end of the training appreciated Governor Dapo Abiodun, the Head of Service, and the Bureau for the opportunity to learn new things, calling on the agency to always reward outstanding officers who distinguish themselves in writing good speeches in their different Ministries, Departments and Agencies.