Panelists underscore need for transparency, accountability in public service
Dr Dasuki Arabi , Director General of Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR), has underscored the need for adherence to policies by governments at all levels, to promote transparency and accountability.
Arabi made the call with other members of the panel at a discussion on “promoting transparency and accountability in the Nigerian public service; the policy options required,” on Friday in Abuja.
The event, the 4th edition of Integrity Icon and Awards ceremony, centered on celebrating five honest and outstanding public officials, including an NSCDC officer and a civil servant with the Police Service Commission.
They stressed the need for Nigerians to comply with policies in the public service to achieve meaningful progress.
Newsmen reports that Integrity Icon is a national campaign led by Accountability Lab Nigeria with support from Luminate, Ford, and MacArthur Foundations aimed at identifying and celebrating the most honest government officials.
Arabi said, “Digitisation of public service process will help to improve transparency and ensure accountability.
“So the policy of e-government master plan should be imbibed by all, government files and record should be digitised to ensure all processes go front line.”
A Media Strategist, Eugenia Abu, called for reforms at the grassroots, to ensure transparency and accountability.
According to her, some people that ought to be held accountable at the various local governments are the council leaders.
“Local Government Chairmen are not what we used to know them to be, therefore there is the need for them to get reformed and be proactive in governance.
“We must ensure Local Government Chairmen are doing the needful on engagement of citizens and citizens hold them accountable to chat the way forward,” Abu said.
Ann Iyonu, Director of Goodluck Jonathan Foundation, decried lack of political will on the part of government officials to often hinder the effective implementation of policies.
According to her, even though there is no need for more policies, it is implementation that is a problem.
Iyonu said, “How do you get public institutions to comply with implementation of these policies?
“You do not need plenty of policies, but to get civil servants to comply with the Acts; if circular is what civil servants respect, let the Head of Service issue it and see to who complies or not.”
Meanwhile, Hajia Halima Ben, from Open Government Partnership Nigeria, stressed the need for government institutions adherence to policies.
“Mandating Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs) to respect Freedom of Information is key; we do not have to reinvent the will, when we have many policies.
“Therefore the need for political will to ensure every MDA complies with policies and promote the effective implementation; also record keeping and relevant awareness must be encouraged to achieve goals,” Ben said.
On his part, Mr Fidelis Edeh, from Service Accord Foundation, said knowledge sharing should be encouraged on ways to promote due process.
“We need to change from bad behaviours and change comes by requisite knowledge about doing things the right way.
“There should be knowledge sharing on right ways people should adhere to rules, to promote behavioural change,” Edeh said.
The high point of the event was a discussion on what it means to be public servant, role of Nigerian government, how people should think about inclusive and fair society, and conferment of awards to honest civil servants.
