CIPM President calls for people-centred transformation of Nigeria’s public service

Nigeria's public service requires a profound overhaul centered on innovation, accountability, participation, and strategic people management, according to Mallam Ahmed Ladan Gobir, President of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (CIPM). Speaking at the Ogun State Public Service Day Celebration, Gobir stressed that the core mission of public service is to enhance citizens' lives, not merely process paperwork. "Government is an idea. Public service is its experience," he stated, urging institutions to measure their impact on citizens rather than just their activities.

“

Government is an idea. Public service is its experience.

Gobir cautioned against superficial digitization, warning against "digitising dysfunction." He challenged leaders to re-evaluate existing procedures to ensure they still create public value, advocating for process redesign around citizen needs. On accountability, he described it as "the mathematics of trust," emphasizing that public institutions must earn citizen confidence through competence, fairness, transparency, and responsiveness.

“

digitising dysfunction

Furthermore, the CIPM President highlighted the importance of meaningful citizen participation, asserting that it should influence decisions, not just be a formality after decisions are made. He also called for inclusive public services, designed to be accessible to all citizens regardless of socioeconomic, geographic, or demographic differences. Gobir concluded by underscoring the critical role of human resource management, stating, "The greatest infrastructure of a nation is not concrete. It is capability. Only capable people can transform a nation."

“

the mathematics of trust