- “ We have gone to the operators and the public who these reforms directly affect to ask them how they are faring, discover their challenges and at the end we are developing policy briefs and documents that will help and guide the Federal Executive Council and Government on how to improve or step down some of the reforms initiatives” He said.
BY: Chris Nwachukwu
The Bureau of Public Service Reforms organized a one-day workshop for perception surveys/impact assessments on the findings/reports of Induction Programme, Treasury Single Account, Presidential Executive Order 005, ICT Reforms in Public Sector, Open Government Partnership (OGP) and Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) at National Commission for Colleges of Education, Abuja.
Speaking to Journalists during the event, the Director General of Bureau of Public Service Reforms(BPSR), Dasuki Ibrahim Arabi said serious reforms commenced since 2004 and various government administrations over the years keep making reforms over what they found. He therefore stated that some of the reforms are due for evaluation .
“ We have gone to the operators and the public who these reforms directly affect to ask them how they are faring, discover their challenges and at the end we are developing policy briefs and documents that will help and guide the Federal Executive Council and Government on how to improve or step down some of the reforms initiatives” He said.
He further explained that from the first report BPSR has received, there are some problems surrounding the Treasury Single Account (TSA) and some of the problems includes inadequate sensitization, communication and lack of participation by the states.
BPSR however has been on a sensitization advocacy visit to the states. About five states has agreed to establish their own Bureau Of Public Service Reforms. This, according to Him will help the states in making proper reforms that will be effective and beneficial.
Analyzing the findings of the TSA survey during presentations and discussions segment of the workshop, Dr Tope Fasua noted that although TSA has received mixed reactions since its inception, majority of Nigerians see it as a welcome development. He therefore urged the government to put in more efforts to ensure that TSA is completely adopted both at the Federal and state levels for its purpose which is aimed at eradicating corruption and creating accountability to be completely achieved.
Other speakers at the event also insisted that more needs to be done by the government in other to improve ICT in public sector as most public sectors do not have access to ICT facilities.
The representative of Open Government Partnership (OGP) at the event, Mrs Chidinma Ilechukwu explained that citizens trust must be restored to government therefore making the activities OGP very essential. She stated that citizens should have access to government information as it affects them. She also commended the Federal Government for launching the Open Treasury Portal which compels MDAs to make public every expense they have made which is above #5,000,000.
