The Bureau of Public Service Reforms, BPSR, and the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, NEITI, have pledged to work together in championing a corruption-free public service.

They believe that their shared commitment to transparency, accountability, and anti-corruption measures will undoubtedly pave the way for a more resilient, prosperous, and just Nigerian society.

The resolve of the two federal government agencies to partner was made recently when Mr. Dasuki Ibrahim Arabi, the Director General of BPSR, visited Dr. Orji Ogbonnaya Orji, the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of NEITI.

While speaking at the NEITI House in Abuja, Arabi observed that their Bureau, as the lead reforms agency under the Presidency, shoulders the responsibility of catalyzing, coordinating, and monitoring reforms within the Nigerian Public Service.

"Our mandate is to usher in transformative changes that enhance efficiency, effectiveness, and integrity across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) of the Federal Government.

"This aligns closely with NEITI's objectives, which revolve around promoting transparency and accountability in the management of Nigeria’s oil, gas, and mining revenues," he said.

The BPSR helmsman noted that NEITI, as the national chapter of the global Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), has been a beacon of transparency, actively championing openness in the vital sectors of oil, gas, and mining.

He said: "Therefore, both BPSR and NEITI share a common thread as quasi-Anti-Corruption Agencies, diligently working to create an environment where graft finds no foothold. Our collaboration is symbiotic, as the reforms initiated by BPSR contribute to the overall transparency and effectiveness of agencies such as NEITI.

"Conversely, NEITI's endeavors support the broader reform ecosystem by demonstrating how transparency initiatives can lead to better governance outcomes".

He said that the extractive industries have historically been susceptible to corruption due to their economic significance.

According to him, NEITI's efforts in revealing and curbing these tendencies are commendable and resonate deeply with BPSR's vision of an accountable and corruption-resistant public service.

Arabi said: "This visit holds significant importance as it marks the collaboration and synergy between two pivotal entities, the Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR) and NEITI, both of which play vital roles in shaping our nation's governance and fostering transparency and accountability.

"The impact of our combined efforts on the Nigerian public service cannot be overstated. As we work together to create a culture of accountability and ethical conduct, we contribute to building public trust, attracting investments, and fostering economic growth.

"The success of NEITI in increasing revenue transparency sets a powerful example for other sectors to follow, and BPSR is committed to ensuring that such practices are ingrained across the spectrum of public service activities.

"In conclusion, I am optimistic that our partnership will serve as a cornerstone for driving positive change in our nation. Let us continue to forge ahead in our collaborative journey, leaving an indelible mark on the landscape of governance in Nigeria".

While responding, Dr. Orji, appreciated Mr. Arabi and his BPSR delegation for the visit, assuring that NEITI will collaborate with the Bureau in order to engender accountability and transparency in the country's public service.

Signed:
Aliyu Umar Aliyu,
ACIO
August 24th, 2023.

Credo Advisory, a leading development communications firm specializing in strategic, operational, and tactical communications initiatives, has unveiled strategies for the Bureau of Public Service Reforms, BPSR, to showcase the successes it has recorded in helping to drive critical reforms in the Nigerian public service.

Mr. Sanumi Dawodu, the firm's Communications Manager, who led a delegation to visit the BPSR corporate office at the Federal Secretariat in Abuja, submitted that the Bureau has achieved tremendous feats in terms of launching reform-policies for various Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs, at the federal level.

He however, said: "There is lack of publicity for the successes you have recorded. Among other things, your presence in various social media platforms is also something you need to work on".

Dawodu, assured that by time a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, is signed between their firm and BPSR, the communication challenges facing the Bureau will be tackled.

In his response, Mr. Dasuki Ibrahim Arabi, the Director General of BPSR, explained that though their Bureau has carried out extensive work in government, the successes recorded are not known by the public.

"Therefore, working with organisations such as Credo Advisory is necessary to ensure that information officers understand their roles and responsibilities in information dissemination to the public, and publicizing the activities of BPSR," he said.

Signed:
Aliyu Umar Aliyu,
ACIO.

July 20th, 2023.

The export of agricultural commodities such as cocoa, cashew, sesame seeds, palm oil, and other tropical products presents a tremendous opportunity to earn foreign exchange and strengthen our national currency, the naira.

This is according to the Director General of the Bureau of Public Service Reforms, BPSR, Dasuki Ibrahim Arabi, who spoke at the July edition of the Bureau's lunch-time seminar, in Abuja.

He said: "Additionally, we have seen a rise in demand for non-traditional agricultural products, including processed and value-added goods.

"Embracing technological advancements and promoting agro-processing industries will not only enhance the quality of our exports but also enable us to access higher-value markets worldwide".

Themed, "Reform Measures the Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has put in place to Diversify the Economy: Challenges and Way Forward," the event had Dr. Ezra Yakusak, Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer of Nigeria of the NEPC as guest speaker.

Arabi, while presenting his opening remarks, observed that by promoting the export of indigenous goods and services, Nigeria can tap into new markets, create employment opportunities for its citizens at home, and enhance the overall competitiveness of Nigerian products on the international stage.

He said: "Diversifying our economy and increasing export activities are crucial steps toward achieving sustainable development and
reducing our vulnerability to global economic fluctuations".

The BPSR Director General asserted that agriculture has historically been the backbone of Nigeria's economy, providing employment and sustenance to many citizens.

"By maximizing the potential of our arable land and investing in modern agricultural practices, we can significantly increase our agricultural exports and earn more foreign currency.

"Therefore, revitalizing and modernizing this sector cannot only bolster our food security but also capitalize on the increasing global demand for quality agricultural products," he said.

Signed:
Aliyu Umar Aliyu,
ACIO.

July 20th, 2023.

The Chairman, National Population Commission (NPC), Nasir Isa Kwarra, has said that preparations for the conduct of the next census have reached an advanced stage and that it will be the first fully digital exercise in the history of the country.

He said so far, about 98% of the total land area of the country has been demarcated into enumeration areas.

Kwarra, who was speaking at a Lunch Time Seminar organised by the Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR) in Abuja on Tuesday, February 15, 2023 also said the demarcation exercise began in 2015 and further delay in conducting the next census will make the products thereof less optimal for the next census in view of the rapidly changing environmental landscape and settlement patterns in the country.

According to him, the census become necessary to help the country plan well for its national development.

He explained that, “The continuous usage of the 2006 Census for the estimation of Nigeria’s population has created a data gap in global population which does not do credit to the nation’s reputation. Nigeria is the seventh most populous nation on earth and will be the third most populous country after China and India in 2050 going by the current rate of growth. Relying on an estimate from a census conducted 16 years ago for a country that hosts a significant proportion of the world population is counterproductive.

“Coming at a time when preparations for the conduct of the 2023 Population and Housing Census are in top gear, the topic of this year’s Seminar fits perfectly into our plan to provide accurate and reliable demographic data for national development. A national census provides important information on a country’s population that is used in government planning and to underpin the national statistical system. Therefore, the quality of such information is paramount to national development,” he added.

The NPC Chairman also said population is a critical factor in a nation’s efforts towards achieving sustainable development.

He said knowledge of the country’s population in terms of size, distribution and socio-economic characteristics is required for planning purposes, which therefore makes the conduct of census an essential governance activity.

Earlier, the BPSR Director-General, Dasuki I. Arabi, said the theme of the seminar, “National Development and The Imperatives of 2023 population and Housing Census,” was deliberately selected due to its timeliness.

He said the conduct of the 2023 population and housing census is a top priority for this administration and is borne out of the desire to bequeath an enduring legacy of evidence-based planning for sustainable development.

“The last comprehensive national population census was conducted in 2006. Since 2017, the National Population Commission has focused her efforts on household and other surveys, in collaboration with the National Bureau of Statistics,” Arabi added.

The BPSR DG also said the conduct of the 2023 population and housing census is therefore to complement the giant strides of government by laying a sustainable basis for a planned and prosperous Nigeria.

He said the importance of population census includes knowing population size, revenue estimation, telling the economic needs of the future, determining the level of unemployment and of standard of living, formulation of economic policies and knowing umber of immigrants.

Others according to him include provision of social amenities, determination of population density, showing the level of available manpower, giving of aids, investment decisions and allocation of parliamentary seats.

Aliyu Umar Aliyu

ACIO (BPSR)

15th Feb, 2023

The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has been rated high at the presentation of report and award on the deployment of Self-Assessment Tool (SAT) by the Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR).

The event held on February 1, 2023, at the NCDMB headquarters, Yenagoa, Bayelsa state capital as part of the bureau’s tradition of ensuring transparency and accountability in government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

Speaking during the presentation of the report and the award, the BPSR DG, Dasuki I. Arabi, said the gathering was also to showcase to Nigerians and the international communities as well as contemporaries the unsung qualities and world class standards the exercise revealed about the organisation.

The DG said NCDMB is the first and only agency under the supervision of Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources, which has enthusiastically submitted itself to undergo the assessment since the BPSR received the marching order in November, 2019 to deploy the tool.

“This is an outstanding pace NCDMB has set and our humble persuasion is for others in the Sector to emulate same and key-into the initiative,” the DG explained.

He also said, “The BPSR’s SAT in 2016 won the CAFRAD African Public Service Excellence Award in Morocco for Nigeria, and was also nominated for the United Nation Public Service Award in 2022.

“Hence, the privilege of having a tool of this nature within the Service for agencies and parastatals to continuously assess themselves against local and international good practice provides the encouragement for continuous improvement and assurances of effective, efficient and equitable service delivery.

“The process of diagnosing the health status of NCDMB commenced in October, 2021 with kind permission of the Executive Secretary to administer the tool to cross section of various categories of NCDMB staff, who were encouraged to be very objective in responding to the statements of good practice while they rate the organisation.

“The findings from the deployment have further reinforced our testament that NCDMB maintains high quality standard in systems and processes and demonstrate uniqueness in today’s fast paced, fast changing and increasingly competitive world.

“In the same light, we desire that the Award accompanying the Report would not only serve a memory of good feat but should continue to stimulate the insatiable desire to be the best in promoting the development and utilisation of in-country capacities for the industrialisation of Nigeria through the effective implementation of the Nigerian Content Act,” Arabi added.

On the uniqueness of the Self-Assessment Tool, the DG said it is fundamentally home grown, hundred percent local content driven and proudly developed in Nigeria, to carefully take into cognisance the peculiarities of the country’s challenges and issues.

Some of the general recommendations of the BPSR report include developing formal code of conduct defining standards of behaviour to which individual Governing Board members of NCDMB subscribe and adhere, fast tracking efforts to open Reforms coordination and service improvement Desk in all its Centres across the country and putting in place mechanism to identify and measure areas of financial risk and prepares contingency plans to mitigate risk associated with changes in Organisational income and funding streams.

The report also recommended NCDMB to procure staff and encourage them to sign an affidavit regarding their commitment not to engage in practices involving a conflict of interests, continue to comply with all the Federal Government financial and accounting policies and ensure frequents training of its staff, among others.

Aliyu Umar Aliyu

ACIO(BPSR)

6th February, 2023