Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation focuses on public sector reform challenges

• To unveil research study on public sector reforms
• Workshop to discuss outcome of study, others

Business a.m

The Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation (AIF) will shine light on the challenges encountered when embarking on public sector reform when it convenes a national workshop aptly titled “Rethinking Reforms: Why Many Reforms Fail in Nigeria and What We Can Do About It.”

A not-for-profit organisation, the AIF is dedicated to transforming public service delivery in Africa, and in a statement it made available to Business a.m., said the workshop, scheduled to hold tomorrow 30 July, 2024, is planned to bring together key stakeholders to discuss critical issues hindering the success of public sector reforms in Nigeria.

According to the Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation, while Nigeria’s public service has a commendable history of guiding the nation through challenging times, the past had witnessed a decline in its effectiveness due to factors such as political interference, a lack of meritocracy, and limited citizen participation.

In light of this, the Foundation stated that it has commissioned an in-depth research study on public sector reforms to help Nigerians understand the root causes of these challenges and chart a path forward, to be discussed at the workshop.

The workshop is expected to explore various topics, including an analysis of past reform efforts and their limitations, and the development of solutions to address current challenges such as the lack of meritocracy, ethical concerns, and limited use of technology in reform initiatives. 

It will as well explore fostering citizen inclusion and prioritising citizen-centric solutions throughout the reform design and implementation processes.

The workshop will bring together a diverse group of stakeholders, including government officials, politicians, policy makers, civil society organisations, business leaders, academics, media representatives, and engaged citizens. These participants will have the opportunity to engage in a meaningful dialogue on the underlying issues impeding the effectiveness of public sector reforms in Nigeria and to provide valuable feedback on the research findings.

This participatory approach aims to ensure that the insights gained from the workshop can be used to refine the research and, ultimately, develop actionable recommendations for the design and implementation of more successful public service reforms in Nigeria.

“Our mission at the Foundation is to facilitate the reform of the Nigerian public service so that it reaches its potential as a powerful agent for positive change. This workshop will provide a platform to identify the underlying causes of past public sector reform failures and develop a roadmap for achieving lasting progress in the future,” remarked Ofovwe Aig-Imoukhuede, executive vice chair at the Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation.