The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has scored 92.25 per cent at the recent self assessment tool (SAT) deployed by the Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR) to monitor its performance.
The tool was deployed in May 2022, with the overall objective of identifying the NPA’s strengths and weaknesses as a first step towards improvement and optimal performance.
Presenting the report of the assessment at NPA headquarters virtually, BPSR Director-General, Dasuki I. Arabi, said the tool, which has to its credit a United Nation Award is among the best innovation emanating from the bureau to rank, reposition and reengineer organizational performance for delivery the gains of good governance.
According to him, “At the end of the independent self-assessment, the validated assessment and in-depth
analysis of processes and practices of the agency, the findings and outcome adjudged NPA as a Level 5 ‘Platinum Level ‘organization i.e. ‘Exceptional Performance with performance level of 91.25%.
“This means that NPA performance far exceeded expectations due to exceptionally high quality of work in all essential areas of responsibility, resulting in an overall quality of work that is superior, exceptional or unique.
“It is worthy of note that the whole process of the assessment was free from both internal and external influence. While we commend critical mass of staff of the NPA for commitment and cooperation they displayed throughout the exercise, it is imperative to also state that there
were certain members who were lackadaisical in their attitude to the very important national exercise of the Federal Government,” Arabi explained.
He then advised NPA to give wholesome attention to the recommendations as an important organ among the generating agencies of the Federal Government.
The DG also said when the Bureau received a marching order in November, 2019 to deploy the tool in all Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), there were three key
objectives in focus, namely: determine the current strengths and weaknesses of an Organization through an assessment of processes and practices; identify priority areas for action and plan to address gaps from the assessment; showcase and celebrate good practice.
“We must commend the patience and focus with which NPA worked with the
BPSR SAT team to see all the objectives successfully realized. This is an important reform exercise which noticeably would boost NPA’s contribution to government effort to
reposition and enhance the national economy,” the BPSR DG added.
Some of the findings of the assessment include; the Board understands its roles and responsibilities to NPA and performs them in accordance with extant provisions and guidelines, the board ensures the development and implementation of clear policies to guide operational leadership and responsiveness of NPA to stakeholders needs, absence of conflict or duplication of roles between the function of NPA and the supervisory Ministry among others.
Responding, the NPA Managing Director, Mohammed Bello-Koko, said they were very pleased with the report and have the mandate of improving on the gaps identified in it.
Koko, who was represented by the Executive Director, Finance and Administration of the authority, Ms Adenrele Adesina, also commended the BPSR for what he described as fair and objective assessment.
“This kind of exercise is very useful because it focuses everybody's mind. We will take this report, as it will help us to design processes and priorities for the coming year.
“I firmly believes that there is much that can be achieved in public service. NPA is a mini Nigeria, so it's a perfect institution to demonstrate what is possible within Public service. We look forward to working with you in the next circle of the exercise,” Ms Adesina added.
Aliyu Umar
Ag. Head, Strategic Communication (BPSR)
15th December, 2022.
