Experts urge public servants to uphold integrity, professionalism

By Emmanuel Elebeke

Public servants in Nigeria have been urged to uphold integrity, professionalism and public trust as essential values for effective governance and service delivery.

The call was made by speakers at the 2026 Public Service Day Lecture held in Abuja on Tuesday.

The lecture, themed “Transforming Public Institutions through Innovation, Participation and Inclusion,” marked the maiden edition of the Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR) Public Service Lecture Series, an initiative aimed at promoting dialogue on public sector reforms.

Delivering the keynote address, former Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Bukar Goni, described public service reform as a critical tool for national development.

He stressed that public service is built on trust between government and citizens and urged civil servants to remain committed to serving the public interest.

According to him, loyalty in the civil service should extend beyond individual office holders to the institutions and citizens public servants are meant to serve.

Goni also encouraged young Nigerians to consider careers in public service and contribute to strengthening government institutions.

He further highlighted the importance of manpower development and called for sustained efforts to build the skills required to meet future governance challenges.

Innovation and Integrity

Presenting a lead paper at the event, Isaac Obasi said technological innovation should complement rather than replace human capacity in public administration.

He noted that while digital transformation has enhanced governance processes, integrity remains central to achieving meaningful reform outcomes.

Obasi emphasized that both service providers and citizens are key stakeholders in governance and should be actively considered in reform initiatives.

Drawing from international experiences, he stressed the importance of ensuring that institutional reforms produce tangible benefits for citizens.

Call for Institutional Transformation

Also speaking at the event, Chairman of the Civil Service Commission, Tunji Olaopa, called for a fundamental shift in public administration practices.

Speaking on the topic, “Public Service in Challenging Times,” Olaopa said public institutions must embrace innovation, inclusion and institutional transformation to address emerging governance challenges effectively.

He urged reform agencies to continue promoting innovative thinking and institutional improvement to enhance public sector performance and service delivery.

BPSR Advocates Inclusive Reforms

In his welcome address, Director-General of the Bureau of Public Service Reforms, Dasuki Arabi, called for renewed commitment to innovation, participation and inclusion in public administration.

Arabi said Public Service Day provides an opportunity to recognise the contributions of public servants while reflecting on the future of governance and public service delivery.

According to him, citizens increasingly expect public institutions to deliver services that are transparent, accountable, responsive and efficient.

He noted that the bureau has worked with stakeholders to address institutional challenges, including outdated systems, fragmented processes, limited citizen engagement and other obstacles affecting public trust.

Arabi emphasized the need for public institutions to leverage technology, data analytics and modern management practices to improve service delivery.

He also advocated greater inclusion of women, youth, persons with disabilities and other underrepresented groups in governance and decision-making processes.

The BPSR Director-General highlighted ongoing government reforms in areas such as digital transformation and public financial management, noting that technology-driven initiatives have contributed to improved transparency and accountability.

He added that efforts are ongoing to expand one-stop service centres and strengthen talent management, institutional capacity, performance management and accountability systems across government agencies.

Arabi further urged public servants to prepare for emerging challenges, including climate change, environmental pressures and rapid technological change.

He commended states that have established public service reform structures and encouraged wider adoption of similar frameworks across the country.

The Director-General also acknowledged the contributions of development partners, including the World Bank, European Union, MacArthur Foundation and Accountability Lab, to public sector reform initiatives in Nigeria.

The event concluded with the recognition of individuals and institutions for their contributions to public service reform at the federal, state and local government levels.

Participants expressed optimism that the Public Service Lecture Series would serve as a platform for knowledge sharing, policy dialogue and collaboration aimed at building a more efficient, accountable and citizen-centred public service.

The post Experts urge public servants to uphold integrity, professionalism appeared first on Vanguard News.