The Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR) has awarded the Corporate Affairs Commission a Gold Level Award for Exceeding Expectations.

The Director General of BPSR, Mr. Dasuki Arabi, presented the award to the Registrar-General/CEO, CAC Hussaini Ishaq Magaji, SAN, today in his office.

He revealed that the award was the outcome of a compliance report following Federal Government directives mandating the Bureau BPSR to facilitate the deployment of the self-assessment tool (SAT) across all Federal Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) and to submit quarterly status reports to the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

Mr. Dasuki Arabi therefore congratulated the CAC for the achievement and used the forum to congratulate the RG for what he described as a well-deserved appointment in view of his dedication and hard work.

Responding, the Registrar-General/CEO, CAC Hussaini Ishaq Magaji, SAN, thanked the BPSR for finding the Commission worthy of the award.

Hussaini Magaji therefore assured that the commission was poised to score above 90% by the next assessment period.

He further stated that the Commission has introduced artificial intelligence to fast-track applications where results come out within an hour.

On the recommendations from the BPRS report that charged the Commission to develop health and safety policies for staff, the RG informed the BPSR DG that it has since introduced monthly workouts and fitness exercises for staff.

He further revealed that plans were underway to standardise the Commission’s health facilities in collaboration with the federal ministry of health.

The high point of the occasion was the presentation of the report on the self-assessment tool (SAT) report and a gold-level award tagged ‘Organisational Self-Assessment Tool Award’.

The event was attended by other management staff of BPSR, CAC Director, Special Duties, Head Public Affairs, SA to Registrar General, Head, BPRS, and other staff.

Aliyu Umar A, FNIPR, FIIM
Head, Strategic Communication(BPSR)
21st/8/2024

The Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR) hosted a sensitization workshop for Directors of Reform Coordination and Service Improvement in Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) on the BPSR Self-Assessment Tool (SAT).

The workshop is aimed at equipping participants with the knowledge and skills to utilize the SAT for improved service delivery and overall reform within their respective organizations.

Dr Dasuki Arabi, Director-General of the BPSR, opened the workshop by highlighting the importance of efficient and effective government institutions in driving socio-economic development. He commended the participants' commitment and acknowledged Successory Nig. Ltd. as a key partner in developing the BPSR SAT.

He explained that established in 2004, the BPSR facilitates public service reforms in Nigeria by providing guidance, expertise and coordination across government MDAs.

The Director General emphasized the need for continuous improvement, citing a 2015 study that identified knowledge gaps hindering efficient management in some agencies.

He said to address this gap, the BPSR created the "How to Manage and Reform Agencies and Parastatals" guide and the BPSR SAT.

The BPSR SAT according to the DG empowers MDAs to assess themselves against local and international best practices. He added that the workshop provided participants with a comprehensive understanding of the tool's features, allowing them to identify areas for improvement, develop actionable plans, and adapt best practices to their specific contexts.

He told the participants that the workshop will also quip them with the knowledge and skills to effectively utilize the BPSR SAT, identify areas for improvement within their organizations, encourage the adoption of the SAT across all MDAs as well as provide a platform for feedback on the tool and suggest improvements.

Dr. Arabi concluded by highlighting the workshop's role in fostering a culture of excellence within MDAs. He emphasized the importance of continuous improvement and urged participants to utilize the insights and strategies gained to advance the government's "Renewed Hope" agenda.

He also expressed the bureau's gratitude to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF) for their leadership in supporting public service reforms.

Aliyu Umar Aliyu
Head, Strategic Communications, BPSR

The intermac consulting, a digital financial services provider through financing in Nigeria has described the Director General of Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR), Dasuki Arabi, as a leader who is very passionate about Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and e-governance.

The Director General of the firm, who was represented by Mercy Okon, stated this when he paid a courtesy visit to the BPSR DG at the bureau's headquarters in Abuja.

She said due to the DG’s passion about the sector, there is no occasion he attends without talking about ICT innovation in running government offices.

Mrs Okon appreciated them for their visit and promised work passionately with them towards achieving the implementation of e-governance.

Similarly, Dr Niran Oyekole who spoke on behalf of the delegations commended the BPSR for the hospitality, saying they came for familiarisation and to share ideas and thoughts for improved service delivery in terms ICT innovation and digitization.

He added that COVID-19 pandemic has taught people the use of ICT in carrying out their duties effectively.

Dr Oyekole further said that as a consulting firm, they have done a lot of work in African continent on the role of e-governance and digitization and cited Rwanda as the country that has the highest implementation of their services.

He also proposed a study tour to the country to study how the were able to achieve that and wished the BPSR will take charge of the training.

He said the company has planned to take a representative from each government MDA for the study tour for them to see how ICT innovation has transformed Rwanda

Aliyu Umar A, FNIPR, FIIM
Head, Strategic Communication(BPSR)
22-08-2024

The Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR) has rated Joint Admission and Matriculation Board 70 at the assessment of the deployment of BPSR Self-Assessment Tool (SAT) at the agency.

This, according to BPSR, means the JAMB has exceeded expectations in all essential areas of responsibility and has performed above average and its main organizational goals are met.

BPSR Director-General, Dasuki I. Arabi, gave the assessment at the presentation of summary report on the deployment of the bureau’s SAT tool on Tuesday, March, 2024 held at JAMB headquarters in Abuja.

According to him, “At the end of the self-assessment, the validation assessment and in-depth analysis of JAMB operations, processes and systems, JAMB performance is rated 70% and therefore, emerged a ‘CILVER LEVEL Organization that EXCEEDS EXPECTATION’.

“This means that JAMB performance consistently exceeded expectations in all essential areas of responsibility. The quality of work is above average and main organizational goals are met.
It is imperative to note that the whole process of the assessment was free from both internal and external influences,” Arabi explained.

The BPSR DG also said the bureau deployed the tool at the agency some weeks ago, based on the Federal Government directives, with the overall objective of identifying JAMB’s strengths and weaknesses, as a first step towards ensuring the agency is fit for purpose and optimal performance.

He however gave some recommendations to JAMB based on some observations during the assessment of the deployment of the tool.

Arabi said, “JAMB Governing Board should be reconstituted; It should develop financial manual and accounting systems that comply with Financial Regulations and be regularly reviewed to ensure efficient and reliable financial reporting; JAMB implement a policy for mobilising resources from development partners to support achievement of its strategic objectives
Internal control systems should develop Risk Assessment Guide to provide for an assessment of risks from both internal and external sources.

“JAMB should develop asset management policy to drive annual planning and budgeting for asset maintenance and replacement; JAMB should appropriately utilises modern and up-to-date technology and infrastructure to ensure efficiency and improved productivity; JAMB should have a comprehensive plan for performance management, Dr Arabi recommended.

Earlier, the JAMB Registrer, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, said the deployment of the tool has revealed a lot of competencies and strengths that the organization has and which they will rely on overtime which could also transform it to greatness.

“I would like to thank your team for finding us worthy and for championing the reforms that are currently going on in the public service.

“I must say that your organization is doing wonderfully well and you need to be commended. With the presence and f this strategic agency, the BPSR, we are indeed achieving this significant milestone for the good of this nation,” Oloyede said.

He also expressed optimism that the current hardship that Nigeria is experiencing is temporary and will soon become history with the measures being put in place by the present administration.

Aliyu Umar A
Head, Strategic Communications (BPSR)
21st March, 2024.

Director-General of the Bureau of Public Service Reform, (BPSR), Mr. Dasuki Arabi, on Tuesday, presented a silver plaque to the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructures (NASENI), for its performance in public service delivery after undergoing a successful organizational self-assessment process.
Mr. Arabi while presenting the award, said the organization had fulfilled and met the necessary requirement in line with the self-assessment tool (SAT) adopted by the bureau, scoring NASENI 63.75% percent for its transparent operations and service delivery.
“Following the validation of assessment of NASENI by the bureau, NASENI performance was rated as consistently meeting expectations in all essential areas of responsibilities,” he said.
Mr. Arabi said the self-assessment was an opportunity for agencies to recognize their weaknesses and strength as it will help guide them in service delivery.
“As I said, the self-assessment tool is giving them the opportunity to see their weaknesses and see their strength. We have jointly assessed the agency, we have noticed lots of issues and problems that they need to address, we have guided them, we are going to provide a team of resource persons including our in house resource persons that will help them implement recommendations, and after six months we will come back to see how far they have gone. But, as I said NASENI is one of the points of success in public service delivery in Nigeria. We are happy with what we are seeing, and we are celebrating them" he said.
He however disclosed that the bureau had a target of assessing a hundred agencies but as a result of the novel pandemic their activity has been limited as they have only covered about twenty agencies. He said the assessment was a move to push for a revolution in public service delivery.
"The circular says every government agency, if not for the Pandemic we would have covered by our plan about 100 agencies by the end of June. But as government offices are opening, we are going to restart the program. So, before the end of the year, we hope to cover about 50 agencies".
“We want to see a revolution in public service delivery, and improvement in quality of public service delivery and in consonance with the open government partnership that Nigeria is committed to, open service delivery just as the charter says" he added.
However, the Executive Vice Chairman/CEO Mr. Khalil Sulayman, express his gratitude to the DG and his technical team for conducting the assessment and providing valuable recommendations to help NASENI fulfils its mandate.
Aliyu Umar
Head, Strategic Communications (BPSR)
21st March, 2024.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Senator George Akume, has commended the development of a Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Framework for the National Strategy for Public Service Reforms, NSPSR; a brainchild of the Bureau of Public Service Reforms, BPSR.
The SGF made the commendation during his keynote address at a stakeholders’ workshop on “Strengthening the Capacity of Bureau of Public Service Reforms Focal Officers on Monitoring and Evaluation for Effective Delivery of the National Public Sector Strategy Initiatives.”
Represented by Mr. Simon Tyongu, a Director in the Office of the SGF, Akume said government has over the years introduced reform greeted with mixed feeling due to inadequate data and monitoring mechanism.
“Over the years, the Nigerian Government have introduced laudable reforms in the public service, but its implementation has come with mixed results.
“However, the development of NSPSR and Federal Civil Service Strategy Implementation Plan (FCSSIP) alongside the Monitoring and Evaluation Framework (M &E Framework) will guide the effective implementation of reform initiatives towards achieving the priority areas of the Renewed Hope Agenda of the present Administration.
“The development of the M & E Framework with key performance indicators, baseline values, unit of measurement, targets, means of verification and data collection and reporting protocols will enhance the effective tracking of the reforms and reforms focused strategies across the targeted MDAs for increased productivity and quality service delivery to citizens,” he stated.
The Director General of BPSR, Mr. Dasuki Ibrahim Arabi, appreciated the SGF and the federal government for supporting their Bureau, while urging participants to remain focused on the objective of the training.
“Much result has not been reported from years of implementation of the strategy by the MDAs due to inadequate data, poor documentation practice and absence of performance monitoring systems.

“The development has made reporting to progress made by MDAs in terms of reform delivery unsystematic, reactive, and unverifiable which can affect policy decisions, but with the M & E Framework, things will take a different dimension.
“I must commend the effort of the SGF for ensuring the Bureau’s programmes and activities succeed by giving it required attention. Finally, I urge participants to be attentive to achieve the expected outcome for the workshop.”
The training workshop is aimed at building and Strengthening the skills and competencies of Focal Officers across Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the Federal Government for increased productivity and quality service delivery to citizens.
Aliyu Umar A.
Head, Strategic Communications (BPSR)
23rd March, 2024.

The Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), has bagged a prestigious award from the Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR) for its remarkable performance in the recent Self-Assessment Test II conducted on Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
The award was presented today by the Director General, BPSR, Dr. Dasuki Ibrahim Arabi, FICD, in line with the Strategy for Public Service Reforms which is aimed at utilizing self-assessment tools to check performance and enhance accountability within MDAs.
Dr. Arabi emphasized the thoroughness of the assessment, stating, "The report is a deep analysis of the activities of FERMA that anybody who has an interest can easily assess it, we have asked Ninety-Nine (99) questions about International Best Practices, Performance Management, Strategic Planning, Human Resources, Development Management, and procurement processes”. Highlighting FERMA's satisfactory overall performance, Dr. Arabi encouraged the Agency to capitalize on strengths and address weaknesses identified in the BPSR Self-Assessment II survey.
He commended FERMA for its excellent performance in its procurement processes while expressing BPSR's readiness to collaborate with FERMA to fulfil its mandate effectively.
The Managing Director/CEO, Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), Engr. Chukwuemeka Agbasi, Ph.D. DIC, FNSE, FNIHTE, in his response, expressed the Agency's commitment to leveraging the assessment report to amplify strengths and address weaknesses. Agbasi outlined strategic steps taken by FERMA to diversify funding sources, enhance operational efficiency, and maximize the road network in Nigeria.
Dr Agbasi acknowledged that the current road funding is ineffective. He, however, outlined the proactive steps the Agency has taken to explore alternative funding sources, including partnerships with local and international bodies, state-owned enterprises, and initiatives to maximise plant and machinery to generate funds.
Additionally, efforts are underway to Generate Revenue Internally through International Vehicle Transit Charge (IVTC), securing grants, and implementing Public-Private Partnerships with concessionaires. He emphasised FERMA’s international collaborations, citing existing Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with South Africa Road Agency to benchmark and improve road quality while learning from Namibia’s exemplary road network.
In line with its vision to become a 21st-century Road Maintenance Agency, FERMA aims to identify necessary skill sets and enhance training capacity to ensure operational excellence and stakeholder satisfaction. He disclosed that the Agency regularly carries out stakeholder engagements to gather feedback and ensure road user satisfaction.
Dr. Abgasi disclosed that FERMA has an ongoing strategic plan aligned with the Agency’s mandate. He reiterated the Agency’s close collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Works to achieve shared goals. Additionally, he highlighted ongoing policies and programmes aimed at repositioning FERMA as a benchmark 21st Century Agency.
Maryam M. Sanusi (Mrs.) FNIPR
Director (Information/PR)
26th March, 2024