The workshop, taking place at the Gombe International Hotel, Yola Road, Gombe State, runs from Monday, December 1 to Friday, December 5, 2025, with the theme: “Strengthening Public Service Performance in Nigeria.”
Declaring the workshop open, the Director-General of BPSR, Mr. Dasuki Ibrahim Arabi, MCIPM, FICA, FIIM, said the training aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Reforms Initiative Pillar 6, which focuses on enhancing the value proposition for civil servants under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Arabi stated that the programme is the first of its kind, exclusively designed to strengthen the capacity of Directors of Reform Coordination responsible for driving innovation, improving governance, and transforming public service delivery.
“The public service must innovate, lead change and deliver measurable results. The effectiveness of Directors of Reform Coordination is crucial to improving governance and service delivery. Unfortunately, feedback across MDAs shows we must do more,” he remarked.
He stressed that effective reforms must address bureaucratic bottlenecks, inefficiencies, and weak accountability, adding that Nigeria’s history of civil service reforms — from Morgan (1963) to Udoji (1972), Dotun Philips (1985), Ayida (1994), Obasanjo reforms (1999–2007) and the Oronsaye Panel — demonstrates the need for continuous restructuring in line with national development priorities.
The DG identified the key objectives of the workshop to include:
– Equipping Directors of Reform with innovative reform strategies adaptable to evolving governance needs.
– Enhancing productivity by streamlining processes and reducing administrative delays.
– Promoting partnerships between Reform Directors, private sector leaders, civil society groups, and development partners.
– Encouraging restructuring within MDAs to strengthen efficiency and service delivery.
He commended the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, who chairs the National Steering Committee on Reforms, and the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, who serves as Vice Chairman, for supporting the initiative. He also expressed gratitude to the Governor of Gombe State, the Permanent Secretary of Gombe BPSR and other stakeholders for their contributions to hosting the workshop.
Goodwill Message by Gombe State BPSR
In a goodwill message delivered during the programme, the Director-General and Permanent Secretary, Gombe State Bureau of Public Service Reforms, applauded the National BPSR for organizing a workshop that reinforces the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda and promotes a citizen-centered public service.
He praised the NBPSR’s commitment to building an efficient, transparent, and technology-driven public service, emphasizing that reform is an urgent necessity, not an option.
“Public service is the engine room of any government. Investing in reform is not a luxury; it is an urgent necessity for national progress, economic growth, and the restoration of public trust,” he stated.
Encouraging the participants, he described them as “architects of Nigeria’s future,” urging them to move beyond rhetoric and focus on actionable change.
“Challenge conventional wisdom. Be open to new methodologies and technologies. Let the recommendations from this workshop not end up on a shelf. Let them be the blueprint for a new Nigerian public service, agile, merit-based, and service-driven,” he charged.
He congratulated the NBPSR for the initiative and wished all participants impactful deliberations, praying for the continued growth of Gombe State and the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Arabi concluded by commending the collaboration between BPSR and Bancorp Consulting Limited, urging other MDAs to adopt similar partnerships in strengthening capacity and accelerating reforms across the country.
“If more MDAs collaborate with BPSR in this manner, we will significantly improve the implementation of reforms in Nigeria,” he said. “We anticipate a fruitful and impactful five-day session that will drive innovation, efficiency, and excellence in public service,” he added.