……….……assures the Gambian delegation of the Commission’s support.
The Chairman, Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC), Prof. Tunji Olaopa has emphasised that public service reform will be impactful when approached systematically. He said Nigeria has a history of reforms right from the pre-independence era and after independence, saying that reforms should follow global best practices.
He revealed that Nigeria has its fair share of challenges when it embarked on its civil service reforms. He advised the team to consider issues of selectivity and comprehensiveness, diversity management and a systematic approach to reform implementation that considers the “5Ms” (men, i.e. human resources; money, i.e. finances; machine, .i.e. technology; materials, i.e. inventories, procurement; and methods, i.e. to deploy smart & best practices, strategies et al).
Olaopa disclosed this when he had an audience with a team from the Gambia Ministry of Public Service led by its Permanent Secretary, Mr. Sheriff Jallow, on a courtesy visit to the Commission.
Receiving the team in company of the Director General, Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR), Dr. Dasuki Ibrahim Arabi and Prof. Victor Ayeni (the team facilitator and Director-GSMI Institute, London); the Chairman said Public Service should not only attune to the fourth but also prepare for the fifth industrial revolution that is structurally ready, process-compatible and operationally efficient.
As he commended the Gambia delegation for their visit, Olaopa said their visit will further deepen the cooperation among the Commonwealth of Nations’ public service as well as build bridges of friendship and knowledge sharing.
The chairman stated that as originally conceived, the public service is supposed to be a promoter of the merit principle, but this is challenged in Africa more than any region of the world where meritocracy is no longer being upheld.
According to him, rewiring of public administration for enhanced capability readiness to support African development will require capable and strategic re-profiling and intelligent public service that is re-professionalised.
While assuring the delegation of his support and assistance, he disclosed that building an effective and efficient public service needs determination, a sense of purpose and resources. He, however, recognized that the Gambia civil service structure was a little different from Nigeria, as there were many areas where capacity can be further developed.
The Chairman applauds the team’s efforts in professionalizing the Gambia public service. He said such action deserves maximum support to ensure that its objectives are achieved.
In his earlier remark, Jallow appreciated the warm reception the Hon. Chairman accorded them. He said their coming to the Commission was a way to see how the Gambian public service can tap from Nigeria’s public service reforms, share from its technical capacity and ultimately, learn from its public service operations.
Talking in the company of his team, Jallow further disclosed that their courtesy visit was to interact with organization on ways to advance the Gambia public service. He stated that they desired to study peculiarities and best practices of Nigeria’s public service.
He called for synergy between the two countries to engender a virile public and civil service.
Signed.
Taiwo Hassan
Head (Press & Public Relations).
13th May, 2025.
