Secretaries have been mulled to be good assets for good operations in their various establishments because they are the first contact to the visitors to give negative or positive impression about the organisation.
The Chairman, Ogun State House of Assembly Service Commission, Hon. Waliu Taiwo, gave this hint during a 2-day training programme, organised for all Confidential Secretaries in the State House of Assembly and the House of Assembly Service Commission at state Secretariat, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.
Hon. Taiwo, according to Miss. Busayo Faleti, Information Officer, OGHASC. said the Commission was not only interested in the welfare of its staff, but also in the human capital development, hence the need for the training to enhance skills and capabilities, as well as increase the productivity of the Secretaries for career progression.
Charging the trainees to respect their superior officers, the Executive Secretary, House of Assembly Service Commission, Mr. Taiwo Opaleye explained that a secretary should be smart and familiar with current software applications to ensure uniqueness on his/her part.
In her goodwill message, the Deputy Clerk, Barrister Oluwafunmilayo Adeyemi mentioned that communication and organisational skills are necessary to be a competent secretary, adding that there should be a continuous upgrade in ICT, in order not to be outdated.
In their contributions, the resource persons, the Director, Management Services and Training, Bureau of Establishments and Training, Mr. Olusegun Akinfaiye and Director IT, Office of Accountant General, Mr. Abdul-Fatai Odunsanya, highlighted attention to details, safe-keeping, registry management and decision-making as tools for effective documentation in the public service.
The duo who explained that as a professional secretary, time management should be an essential skill to ensure that all tasks are completed before deadline, disclosed that confidentiality is needed for secured job etiquette, noting that all secretaries should know how to use advanced computer applications especially excel software in their everyday activities to be IT compliant.
Responding on behalf of the participants, Mrs. Agnes Fasanya, applauded the State House of Assembly Service Commission for the training, stating that it has exposed them to fresh knowledge and flexibility in the discharge their duties.