The Executive Secretary of Tertiary Education Trust Fund, TETFund, Arc. Sonny Echono,
Has called on public servants to realise the importance of preparing early for life after service as Many struggle with that transition.

Echono stated this in Abuja while receiving a delegation from the Public Service Institute of Nigeria, PSIN, led by its Administrator and Chief Executive, Barr. Imeh Okon, on a courtesy visit to TETFund headquarters on Thursday.

While responding to PSIN’s proposals for broader collaboration, Echono expressed interest in continuous professional development programmes, compliance training, and pre-retirement workshops for TETFund staff.

He urgent the Public Service Institute of Nigeria, PSIN, to develop a core of officers that can respond to the fast-changing dynamics of governance, and elevate the quality of their service to meet the changing needs of society.

The TETFund boss lamented that the public service has been finding it very challenging to make that transition which explains the disquiet about whether it is meeting its obligations to the larger society.

He noted that in today’s fast-paced and disruptive environment, the public service must rise beyond routine administration to become “an instrument for facilitating rapid development of both our economy and society.”

“As you did observe in today’s public service, which is dynamic, very disruptive and the changes are fast and sudden, we need to develop a core of officers that can respond to such disruptions and can elevate the quality of their service to meet the changing needs of society.

He assured PSIN of TETFund’s commitment to deepening existing partnerships and supporting initiatives aimed at rebuilding the competence, professionalism, and responsiveness of Nigeria’s public service.

On her part, the Administrator and Chief Executive of PSIN, Barr Imeh Okon, expressed the Institute’s desire to strengthen its partnership with TETFund to enhance capacity building, leadership development, and institutional governance within Nigeria’s public sector.

While describing her engagement with TETFund as part of her familiarization tour since assuming office on September 1, 2025, she commended the Fund for its strategic contributions to tertiary education development and public sector capacity building.

She noted that the visit was aimed at “reviving and deepening an existing relationship that has evolved into a lesser engagement over time.”

“We want PSIN to be your first port of call when it comes to capacity building. Beyond the traditional training programmes, we are introducing new frameworks such as SMART-P, LEAD-P, and the induction programme to enhance professionalism and leadership in the civil service,” Okon said.

She explained that SMART-P focuses on equipping all staff with essential skills for effective service delivery, while LEAD-P prepares future leaders for higher responsibilities as directors and permanent secretaries. The induction programme, he added, ensures that new entrants understand the organizational culture and expectations from the onset.

The PSIN boss also proposed strengthening pre-retirement initiatives through the Institute’s Exit Masterclass, designed to help officers prepare at least five years before retirement for seamless integration into post-service life.

“Transitioning from the public service to the competitive marketplace can be challenging. We want to help officers plan ahead so that their exit is smooth, productive, and sustainable,” she said.

Okon further disclosed plans to create stronger linkages between universities and the public service, suggesting a framework where academic research and innovation could directly inform public policy development and drive proactive governance.

“Policy should be futuristic, not reactive. We want to bridge the gap between research and policy by turning university-based insights into implementable public solutions,” he said.

She also proposed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, to formalize the renewed partnership between PSIN and TETFund.