Works Ministry Begins Training of Engineers, Others, Warns Against Graft

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

The Federal Ministry of Works yesterday began the training of its highway engineers, technologists, and technicians, warning them against any act that could land them in the hands of Nigeria’s anti-graft agencies.

At the event in Abuja, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Olufunsho Adebiyi, called on  civil servants to recommit to professionalism and integrity in the discharge of their duties, stressing that any misconduct and loss of focus within the system may damage their image and that of the ministry.

During the opening ceremony of the three-day training session for the Batch 1 beneficiaries in the North-central Zone, held at the Pavement Evaluation Unit (PEU), Sheda, Kwali Area Council, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Adebiyi noted that while political office holders come and go, civil servants remain accountable for operational lapses and questionable decisions.

“When the EFCC begins investigations, it is not the politicians but civil servants that are invited. That is the reality we must confront,” Adebiyi stated.

Adebiyi urged ministry staff to change the current public perception by embracing ethical conduct, discipline, and technical excellence, stressing the importance of a performance-based career structure within the ministry.

“Some officers are promoted beyond their capacity, and others have remained in the same location for 20 to 30 years. That must change. We are now rotating officers across different departments and regions, so they develop well-rounded expertise.

“We have clear, documented procedures for handling misconduct—junior staff committee, senior staff committee, and management committee. From dismissal to jail terms, we will enforce penalties where necessary. The era of impunity is over,” he said.

Adebiyi stated that it has become necessary to build capacity to ensure that the civil servants, especially engineers have a comprehensive experience “because the soil texture in Bayelsa is totally different from the soil texture in Sokoto.”

“By the time you rise and become a director, you are an all-rounder. This was a privilege I had that many of them didn’t have,” he added.

In his remarks, a retired civil servant of the ministry, Femi Oyekanmi, emphasised the importance of peer-to-peer knowledge transfer, noting that the Ministry of Works still has the best stock of civil engineers in the country

“We decided that all available retirees should come back and help teach active staff how to improve service delivery. That’s why I’m here to speak on ‘Effective Supervision of Federal Projects’. The turnout and enthusiasm of the staff show that they are eager to improve—and that improvement must begin immediately,” he said.

Oyekanmi, who spent decades in road management, stressed the need for increased manpower to match the rising number of projects. He advised staff on field assignments to show greater dedication and resilience.

“The Ministry of Works still has the best stock of civil engineers in the country, but they are overwhelmed. If the number of projects has tripled, then staffing must increase accordingly. Engineers are trained to work under tough conditions. Use what you have and deliver results. That’s what defines you,” he said.

He also urged Nigerian youths to take a cue from such professional development efforts.

“Today’s youth must wake up. Many graduates can’t write a simple memo or minutes of a meeting. They waste valuable time on social media instead of building capacity. Employment today is no longer guaranteed by a certificate alone—performance is the new benchmark.”

Also speaking,  the Director of Highway Planning and Development, Yiltony David, expressed optimism that the training would enhance both morale and performance.

“I expect that participants will leave here knowing that the ministry cares about their welfare and the quality of work they produce,” he said.

According to David, the long-term sustainability of Nigeria’s road infrastructure depends on the technical capacity and commitment of its engineers.

“As budgetary provisions shrink, we must build roads that last and maintain the ones we already have. That’s why training and retraining are critical. This is about national service—and I expect the attendees to go back more committed to giving value to Nigeria,” he stated.