The federal government has charged Chairmen, Chief Executive Officers and members of the Governing Board of Federal Parastatals, Agencies and Commissions to uphold the principles of good governance, accountability, integrity and effective service delivery..
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, gave the charge during a three-day Induction Programme for Chief Executive Officers, Chairmen and Governing Board Members of Parastatals, Agencies and Commissions on Monday in Abuja.
It was organised by the Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR), with support from Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS) and the Department of International Development (DFID), now FCDO.
The SGF, represented by the Permanent Secretary, General Services Office (GSO) in his office, Dr. Ibrahim Kana, stated that the induction programme was designed to deepen participants’ understanding of emerging government policies, processes and procedures, while equipping them with the requisite knowledge to effectively discharge their mandates.
According to him, The Public Service remains the principal vehicle for policy implementation and service delivery in Nigeria, stressing that Parastatals, Agencies and Commissions were established to carry out specific functions within the framework of government policies and national priorities.
He also expressed concern over the increasing instances of conflicts and misunderstandings regarding the roles and responsibilities of Boards and Chief Executive Officers.
He noted that such situations have negatively affected productivity and institutional harmony in some agencies.
“Governing Boards are responsible for providing policy direction and strategic oversight, while Chief Executive Officers are charged with the day-to-day administration and management of their respective institutions,” Akume said.
The SGF emphasized that Governing Boards must operate within the limits of their statutory mandates and should refrain from direct involvement in daily administration.
He further reminded Board Members that their responsibilities are primarily policy-oriented and oversight-driven.
While urging Chairmen and Board Members to familiarise themselves with the enabling laws and operational guidelines governing their institutions, the SGF outlined the critical oversight responsibilities of the Boards.
He also disclosed that the BPSR has been directed to conduct impact assessments on agencies whose Board Members and Chief Executives participate in the induction programme.
Earlier, the Director General of the BPSR, Mr Dasuki Arabi said the batch of induction training represents the 11th series, conducted by the BPSR as part of its core mandates.
He noted that the training was informed on the deliberate step by the federal government to strengthen accountability, promote good governance, and cultivate mandate-driven leadership across the public sector.
Arabi stressed that the induction training was part of the broader mandate of the Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR), to strengthen public institutions, and transform them to highly functional, professional, customer -focused, and result- oriented institutions.