The Director-General of the Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR), Dasuki Arabi, has said that Nigeria’s public institutions must continuously earn and sustain the trust of citizens through greater accountability, innovation, inclusion and improved service delivery.
Arabi made the remarks in Abuja during the Nigeria Public Service Lecture Series and Awards held to commemorate the 2026 United Nations Public Service Day. The event, themed “Transforming Public Institutions: Advancing Innovation, Participation and Inclusion,” brought together government officials, policy experts and stakeholders to assess ongoing reforms and explore strategies for building more responsive institutions.
According to Arabi, the success of government reforms should not be measured merely by policy documents or administrative changes, but by the extent to which ordinary Nigerians experience meaningful improvements in their daily lives. He emphasized that public institutions must place human dignity, fairness and equal opportunity at the centre of governance if they are to regain and sustain public confidence.
He noted that over the years, the Nigerian public service has worked to address longstanding institutional challenges, including outdated systems, fragmented administrative processes, limited citizen engagement and inequalities that have weakened trust in government institutions.
“Through strong leadership, effective policies, strategic partnerships and reforms, significant efforts have been made to tackle institutional problems. However, the ultimate test of these reforms lies in their impact on citizens,” Arabi said.
The BPSR Director-General stressed that innovation, participation and inclusion are fundamental pillars for building modern institutions capable of responding to the growing expectations of Nigerians. He said the adoption of digital technologies, data analytics and contemporary administrative systems would enable public institutions to deliver faster, more efficient and resilient services.
According to him, technological transformation is essential to improving governance and ensuring that public services meet the needs of citizens in an increasingly digital world.
Arabi also underscored the importance of inclusiveness, saying reforms must benefit all segments of society, including women, young people, persons with disabilities and marginalized communities.
“Inclusion is not only a moral obligation; it is also a practical necessity for building sustainable institutions,” he said, adding that development cannot be meaningful if vulnerable groups are excluded from opportunities and decision-making processes.
He highlighted several initiatives introduced by the Federal Government to promote innovation and citizen participation, including digital economy policies, participatory budgeting frameworks and programmes aimed at encouraging entrepreneurship and economic growth.
The BPSR boss further called for stronger accountability mechanisms, transparent processes, independent oversight and effective data-driven monitoring systems to ensure that reforms produce measurable outcomes.
According to him, restoring public trust requires institutions that consistently demonstrate fairness, efficiency and integrity in the delivery of services.
Arabi also urged ministries, departments and agencies to incorporate Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) principles into their operations and prepare for emerging challenges such as climate change, flooding, heat stress and environmental pressures that increasingly affect governance and public service delivery.
He commended states such as Gombe, Kaduna, Lagos and Rivers for establishing public service reform bureaux and encouraged other states to institutionalize similar structures to strengthen governance at the subnational level.
Also speaking at the event, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Common Services Office, Dr. Danjuma Usman Kalba, said public servants must continue to innovate and deliver results that have tangible impacts on citizens.
Kalba explained that the ongoing digitalization of the civil service is aimed at improving governance outcomes and ensuring that Nigerians benefit directly from government programmes.
“These reforms are not an end in themselves. They are designed to ensure that citizens feel the impact of government and appreciate the value of public service,” he said.
He added that citizens’ perceptions of government are largely shaped by the conduct of public officials, the speed of service delivery, the quality of decisions and the consistency of results delivered by public institutions.
“As public servants, we must recognize that citizens experience government through our actions and responses. Therefore, professionalism, transparency and efficiency are critical to building trust,” Kalba stated.
He urged ministries, departments and agencies to view the annual lecture series not merely as a ceremonial event but as an opportunity for reflection, evaluation and renewal of commitment to excellence in public service.
Meanwhile, Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State, represented by the state’s Head of Civil Service, Prof. Mu’azu Shehu, emphasized that reforms initiated at the federal level would only achieve meaningful results if effectively implemented at state and local government levels.
He stressed that national development requires stronger collaboration among states and the sharing of best practices to ensure that reform initiatives are fully integrated across all tiers of government.
“No reform introduced at the centre can adequately address the country’s challenges unless it is replicated and implemented effectively at the subnational level,” he said.
The annual Nigeria Public Service Lecture Series forms part of activities marking the United Nations Public Service Day, which is celebrated globally to recognize the role of public institutions in promoting development, accountability and good governance.
This year’s event also featured awards honoring individuals and institutions that have made outstanding contributions to public sector reforms and excellence in service delivery at the federal, state and local government levels.
Stakeholders at the event agreed that rebuilding public confidence in government institutions requires sustained reforms, transparent leadership and a commitment to ensuring that citizens remain at the heart of governance and public service delivery.
