BPSR, Head of Service Partner to Boost Public Accountability
By Aluta News
December 14, 2024
The Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR) has entered into a strategic partnership with the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) to enhance public accountability and transform Nigeria’s civil service.
According to a statement by Aliyu Umar, Head of Strategic Communication at BPSR, the partnership aims to institutionalize performance management, promote innovation, and accelerate digitalization across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
BPSR’s Director-General, Mr. Dasuki Ibrahim Arabi, emphasized the critical role of this partnership in driving meaningful change in the public sector. “The BPSR is committed to working closely with the OHCSF to ensure that reform initiatives are effectively implemented, creating a public service that is more efficient, accountable, and citizen-centered,” he stated.
This collaborative effort is expected to improve service delivery, implement modern management practices, and foster accountability in the system. The BPSR has been working tirelessly to enhance public service efficiency, and this partnership is a significant step towards achieving that goal.
“Performance management issues persisted because there were so many competing other activities to deal with. And so we decided that, okay, we need to set a day apart you must do it on Thursdays, so that is yielding a lot of results, and we are sure that by next year, our appraisal should be fully based on that system,” he said.
He announced advancements in digitalization efforts, including the establishment of enterprise content management systems and the goal to fully digitalize 10 ministries by the end of the year. Other key initiatives include:
GovMail: A secure platform providing official email accounts for all civil and public servants.
Service-Wise GPT: An AI-powered tool offering quick access to information about the Federal Civil Service.
Online Circular Compendium: A digital repository for circulars issued from 1995 to date, enabling easy access to critical documents.
“These innovations, alongside the validation of key policies like the reform and recognition policy and mentoring framework, are milestones in making the civil service more effective and transparent,” Arabi stated.
He also announced plans for an extensive stakeholder engagement program to gather feedback from the Nigerian public on service delivery. “We are aware that our number one customers are the Nigerian citizens… If you are not satisfied, how can we improve to serve them better?” he added.
The meeting was attended by senior officials, including Permanent Secretaries, as well as representatives from partner organizations such as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), and the World Bank.
The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF), Mrs Didi Esther Walson-Jack, OON, mni, reaffirmed her commitment to reforming and modernizing the civil service to align with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“This collaboration marks the beginning of a robust partnership that will drive reforms in the service to a logical conclusion and ensure their sustainability,” she stated.
The partnership between BPSR and OHCSF underscores a shared commitment to achieving a transparent, innovative, and citizen-centered public service system for Nigeria.