By KP Reporter
The Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR) and University of Lagos (UNILAG) Consult have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at building capacities for elected public officials. The initiative is geared towards entrenching the ethos of good governance in Nigeria.
The MoU was signed in Abuja on Friday, with the Director-General of BPSR, Mr Dasuki Arabi, signing on behalf of the bureau, while Prof. Mohammed Usman, the Managing Director of UNILAG Consult, signed for the university.
According to Arabi, the newly elected officials will be taken through rigorous training in rudimentary governance procedures and practices to equip them with a better understanding of the operations of the public service. This will ensure that they are properly prepared for the assumption of office and have the necessary skills and knowledge to perform their duties effectively.
The director-general further stated that the MoU is in line with the mandate of the Bureau, especially the implementation of the National Strategy for Public Service Reforms, which includes induction training for top government officials.
The proposed induction involving newly elected governors and deputies is expected to hold in the first week of May in Abuja, while that of the members of state assemblies will follow subsequently across the various geo-political zones. The training curriculum has been carefully selected to cover multi-disciplinary areas such as procurement, public governance, economic and financial crimes, e-governance, freedom of information, investment and internally generated revenue, and the Open Government Partnership.
Prof. Mohammed Usman, who was also the Chairman of the Technical Committee for the event, thanked all members and urged them to put their best foot forward for effective public service delivery. He added that four sub-committees had been formed, namely Finance, Technical, Logistics, and Publicity, and they were performing excellently to ensure that public service is delivered on their mandate.
This partnership between the BPSR and UNILAG Consult is a significant step towards improving the quality of governance in Nigeria. By equipping elected officials with the necessary skills and knowledge, the country can be assured of better governance and more efficient public service delivery.