Fake agencies: BPSR inaugurates task teams to drive reforms

The Bureau of Public Service Reforms has inaugurated four Inter-Ministerial Task Teams to strengthen institutional reforms, governance and service delivery across Nigeria’s Federal Public Service.

The Director-General of the Bureau, Dr Dasuki I. Arabi, disclosed this on Monday in Abuja at the inauguration of the task teams established to undertake the strategic assignments aimed at institutionalising public service reforms.

The four assignments include: the review and production of the Compendium on Public Service Reforms in Nigeria, 2023–2026; review and production of the National Strategy for Public Service Reforms, 2025–2030; development of tools and guides for the creation of Federal Government agencies, parastatals and commissions; and the development and implementation of an oversight framework for governance, board evaluation and compliance monitoring in Ministries, Departments and Agencies.

Arabi disclosed to Arewa PUNCH that the task teams were established in line with the Federal Government’s whole-of-government approach to effective service delivery.

He said the assignments were complementary and formed part of efforts to strengthen the architecture for effective, accountable and results-oriented public administration.

According to him, the compendium, which is the fifth edition produced by the BPSR will document reform initiatives, achievements, challenges, lessons learnt and proposed next steps between 2023 and 2026.

He urged the task team to adopt a comprehensive and evidence-based approach in documenting reforms across MDAs, stressing that the compendium should go beyond being a catalogue of government activities.

“The Compendium should not merely be a catalogue of activities. It should provide a clear account of the rationale for each reform, the policy and institutional framework underpinning it, implementation status and measurable achievements, challenges and constraints encountered, lessons learnt and good practices, impact, where evidence is available, and proposed next steps,” he said.

Arabi also explained that the review of the National Strategy for Public Service Reforms was necessary following an assessment of the implementation of previous editions of the strategy.

He said the new strategy would provide a common vision and long-term framework for coordinating public service transformation while addressing gaps identified during previous implementation phases.

The DG pointed out that the strategy should focus on institutional and governance reforms, human capital development, professionalism, digital transformation, public financial management, accountability, performance management, citizen-centred service delivery, inter-agency coordination and monitoring and evaluation.

He urged the task team to ensure that the strategy became a practical instrument for guiding and measuring reform implementation rather than remaining a policy document.

On the development of tools and guides for creating federal government agencies, parastatals and commissions, Arabi said the initiative would establish a systematic process for determining whether new institutions were necessary.

He noted that the proposed guidelines would consider the justification for establishing an institution, alignment with national priorities, clarity of mandate, possible duplication of functions, governance and accountability arrangements, financial and human-resource implications, legal requirements and sustainability.

“The objective should be to ensure that decisions regarding the creation of government institutions are informed by evidence, clearly defined mandates and sound public-sector management principles,” he said.

Arabi explained that the fourth assignment, being the oversight framework for governance, board evaluation and compliance monitoring, would provide practical guidance on governance structures, board composition and competencies, board evaluation, compliance, risk management, internal controls, accountability and conflict-of-interest management.

He added thate framework would also promote continuous improvement and link oversight to measurable institutional performance.

The BPSR boss urged members of the task teams to work collaboratively and adopt a whole-of-government perspective, noting that the assignments cut across the Federal Public Service.

He also called for extensive consultation with MDAs, professional bodies, development partners, academia, civil society organisations and other stakeholders.

Arabi assured the teams that the BPSR would provide the necessary coordination and technical support, including facilitating meetings, providing background materials, coordinating stakeholder engagements and supporting the consolidation and quality assurance of their outputs.

He said the four initiatives would strengthen the institutional foundations of the public service and contribute to improved governance and service delivery.

Speaking on behalf of the Society of Corporate Governance, Malam Muhammed Ahmed said the initiative indicated the federal government’s intention to reposition the BPSR.

“My impression is that the government wants to reposition BPSR and we should commend the federal government. Beyond that, the institutions must be empowered, repositioned, well-resourced, not just giving them responsibility but ensuring they function. Reforms are one thing but institutionalising the culture is another thing,” he said.

Also speaking, Dr Steve Ogidon said the work of the BPSR was often taken for granted and only became noticeable when problems occurred within government institutions.

“It’s when a fake agency is found that someone will say how come we don’t have guideline for establishment of agencies or something is wrong with an office holder that they will say how come there are no guidelines for the conduct of office holders,” he said.