CPSG seeks stronger systems, accountability to improve public-sector performance

Mercy Iheoma Ihedigbo

Stakeholders in Nigeria’s public sector have called for the urgent strengthening of institutions, systems and accountability mechanisms capable of sustaining effective governance and public-sector performance beyond the tenure of individual political and administrative leaders.

The call was made at the maiden physical forum of the Centre for Public Sector Governance (CPSG), a subdivision of the Society for Corporate Governance Nigeria (SCGN), which brought together public-sector practitioners, regulators, governance professionals, private-sector stakeholders and researchers to deliberate on practical approaches to improving governance and delivering sustainable public value.

The forum provided a platform for participants to examine some of the persistent challenges confronting Nigeria’s public institutions, including the gap between government policies and their actual impact on citizens, weak institutional continuity, leadership accountability, infrastructure delivery and the need to strengthen systems that translate government decisions into tangible services.

Opening the event, the Chief Operating Officer of CPSG, Dr. Oyebisi Taiwo, welcomed participants and set the tone for discussions centred on institutional effectiveness, accountability and sustainable governance.

Taiwo thereafter invited the Chief Executive Officer of the Centre, Ms. Chioma Mordi, to deliver the opening address.

Mordi explained that CPSG was established to extend the principles and practices of corporate governance into Nigeria’s public sector, noting that effective governance has become increasingly important as governments face growing demands from citizens while operating within limited resources.

According to her, stronger governance structures are essential to ensuring that public institutions function effectively, remain accountable and contribute meaningfully to national development.

She emphasised that governance should go beyond compliance with rules to encompass effective leadership, accountability, transparency, performance management and the capacity of institutions to deliver sustainable outcomes.

From Policies to Measurable Results
A major issue that dominated the forum was the persistent disconnect between government policy formulation and the actual experiences of citizens.

Speaking during an interview session, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC), Dr. Emeka Vitalis Obi, mni, argued that the success of government should ultimately be measured by the impact of its policies on the lives of Nigerians.

Obi stressed that the quality of policies produced by the government is not enough if such policies fail to generate measurable improvements in the well-being of citizens.

He explained that effective public-sector delivery requires attention to the entire policy chain, beginning with policy conception and design and extending through budgeting, procurement, funding, implementation and, ultimately, service delivery.

His position highlighted the interconnected nature of public administration, with participants stressing that weaknesses at any point in the chain could undermine the effectiveness of an otherwise well-designed government policy.

The discussion, therefore, called for a more integrated approach to governance, in which government ministries, departments and agencies work within clearly defined systems and performance frameworks rather than operating as isolated administrative units.

Leadership must be accompanied by stewardship

The forum also examined the responsibilities of individuals entrusted with public institutions and resources.

Dr. Debra Brown, Founder, President and CEO of Governance Solutions Inc. and The Professional Director Institute, stressed the importance of stewardship in public leadership.

According to Brown, those entrusted with public institutions and resources have a responsibility to protect public trust and promote the well-being of the citizens whom such institutions were established to serve.

Her presentation reinforced the need for integrity, accountability and institutional discipline in public administration.

She emphasised that public leadership should not be viewed merely as an opportunity to exercise authority but as a responsibility to safeguard institutions, resources and public confidence for present and future generations.

Participants noted that where public institutions are driven primarily by individual personalities rather than established systems, the gains recorded under one administration or leadership team can easily be reversed when there is a change in leadership.

Opeifa advocates institutional continuity

The issue of institutional continuity came into sharper focus during the panel session featuring the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Dr. Kayode Opeifa, and the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Civil Service Commission, Dr. Emeka Vitalis Obi.

Opeifa, drawing from his experience in both the public and private sectors, stressed the importance of building systems capable of preserving institutional effectiveness irrespective of who occupies a particular office.

He warned that institutions that rely excessively on the personalities, individual knowledge or leadership styles of office holders could experience serious challenges when such leaders leave their positions.

He therefore advocated stronger institutional systems, proper documentation of best practices and standard operating procedures that would enable organisations to preserve institutional knowledge and maintain continuity.

According to him, institutionalising knowledge is essential to ensuring that progress achieved under one leader is not lost when another leader takes over.

The approach, he suggested, would help public institutions develop a culture in which processes and systems remain functional regardless of leadership changes.

The panel session was moderated by Nimma Mo-Madugu, Partner at KENNA.
Citizens at the Centre of Governance
Beyond institutional continuity, participants examined the role of citizen engagement in improving public-sector performance.

The discussions emphasised that government institutions exist ultimately to serve citizens and that public-sector governance should therefore be measured by the quality, accessibility and effectiveness of services delivered to the people.

Participants also considered the importance of public infrastructure, leadership accountability and stronger mechanisms for monitoring government performance.

The forum underscored the need for public institutions to develop clear performance indicators and mechanisms through which citizens and other stakeholders can assess whether government programmes are producing their intended results.

There was also emphasis on the importance of evidence-based decision-making and continuous engagement between government institutions, researchers, the private sector and citizens.

Growing interest in public-sector governance

More than 40 participants attended the forum physically, while approximately 100 others joined virtually, reflecting growing interest in practical solutions to Nigeria’s governance and institutional-performance challenges.

The significant virtual participation also demonstrated the potential for technology to broaden access to governance conversations and connect stakeholders across different locations.

For CPSG, the maiden physical forum represents an important step towards establishing a sustained platform for evidence-informed dialogue on Nigeria’s public-sector governance challenges.

The Centre said it would build on the discussions through research, capacity development, policy dialogue and stakeholder engagement, strengthen public institutions and enhance their capacity to deliver sustainable public value.

The Centre for Public Sector Governance is a subdivision of the Society for Corporate Governance Nigeria dedicated to promoting effective governance, leadership and institutional performance in Nigeria’s public sector.

Through research, capacity development, policy engagement and governance-focused programmes, CPSG seeks to support public institutions and other stakeholders in developing stronger governance structures and systems capable of delivering improved outcomes for citizens.

The central message from the forum was clear: Nigeria’s development cannot depend solely on the personalities of those occupying public offices. Sustainable progress requires institutions with strong systems, documented processes, accountable leadership and the capacity to preserve knowledge and performance across successive administrations.

As stakeholders continue to demand better governance and improved public services, the challenge before Nigeria’s public sector is increasingly one of building institutions that do not merely perform under exceptional leaders, but remain effective long after those leaders have left office.