The Plateau State Civil Service Commission has raised concern over manpower shortages affecting the smooth operation of several ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) in the state.
The Chairman of the Commission, Professor Paul Samani, disclosed this while speaking on his one year in office, noting that the current workforce is insufficient to meet growing service demands.
According to him, many MDAs have continued to experience staff depletion due to retirements, deaths, resignations, and movement of workers to better opportunities elsewhere.
Professor Samani said the commission has not yet concluded a comprehensive determination of the state’s staff strength but acknowledged that gaps are evident across key sectors.
He revealed that all MDAs have been directed to submit detailed reports on their manpower needs to enable proper assessment and planning.
The CSC chairman explained that the data being collated would guide government decisions on recruitment and workforce restructuring.
He stressed that any future recruitment would be deliberate, merit-based, and driven by actual needs rather than political considerations.
“Our concern is not just to recruit, but to recruit the right people with the right skills for the right positions,” he said.
Professor Samani added that Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang is keen on improving the quality of personnel in the civil service and has emphasised professionalism and capacity building.
He disclosed that recommendations for needs-based recruitment may be presented to the government by the first quarter of next year.
The CSC chairman assured that addressing manpower shortages remains central to ongoing reforms aimed at improving efficiency and service delivery across Plateau State.
