Nigeria, Gambia deepen ties on public reforms
By Philomina Attah
The Director-General of the Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR), Mr Dasuki Arabi, has reaffirmed the value of the longstanding Nigeria-Gambia partnership.
He spoke in Abuja, during a visit by Gambian public service officers studying Nigeria’s ongoing public service reforms.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the visit aimed to strengthen collaboration and share innovative strategies in advancing African public sector excellence.
Arabi thanked the Gambian Government, noting the deep historical and cultural ties between both nations.
He highlighted the significance of the study visit as a platform to share best practices and address common reform challenges.
Arabi outlined Nigeria’s reform journey, tracing its development from post-independence efforts to present-day digital initiatives.
He detailed the four pillars of the National Strategy on Public Service Reforms (NSPSR), coordinated by the Office of the Secretary to the Government.
He said the most effective pillar had enabled full digitalisation of federal financial transactions, improving transparency and efficiency.
He cited innovations like IPPIS, GIFMIS, TSA, and BVN, which he said have reduced corruption by over 70 per cent and eliminated ghost workers.
Arabi reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to e-governance, with a master plan to achieve 100 per cent paperless service delivery by 2030.
He added that technologies like AI, blockchain, and data systems were improving service quality and enhancing data protection.
He named agencies such as FIRS and CAC as examples of Nigerian institutions delivering world-class services.
Arabi noted that national ID integration has streamlined business registration, tax processes, and access to public services, cutting delays by over 90 per cent.
He said BPSR initiatives include annual perception surveys, impact assessments, and a website scorecard to boost digital governance standards.
A self-assessment tool, he explained, helps ministries and departments track and improve performance in real time.
Arabi also praised Nigeria’s open government efforts, which have earned it top rankings in Africa and globally.
He called for sustained reforms and deeper collaboration between Nigeria and Gambia in achieving shared goals.
Mr Pateh Jah, Permanent Secretary at Gambia’s Ministry of Public Service, expressed appreciation for the knowledge shared by the Bureau.
He emphasised the importance of learning from successful strategies to enhance Gambia’s service delivery.
Jah highlighted Gambia’s ongoing reform efforts to build a more transparent and citizen-focused public sector.
He acknowledged both progress made and challenges faced in modernising the Gambian civil service.
“Our goal is to adapt Nigeria’s reform experiences to suit our own needs,” Jah stated.
He admitted that the lack of an integrated personnel and payroll system had caused inefficiencies in Gambia.
“To fix this, Gambia is developing a Human Resource Management Information System to align payroll and personnel records,” he said.
He added that a national identification number is being introduced for all citizens, from birth to death.
“With a single ID, citizens can access services without presenting multiple documents,” Jah explained.
He also stressed the value of regular citizen feedback for improving public service performance.
Prof. Victor Ayeni, Director at Governance and Management Services International, UK, also spoke at the event.
He described the visit as a celebration of African innovation and intercontinental learning.
Ayeni said Gambia’s decision to learn from Nigeria reflects confidence in Africa’s home-grown solutions.
He said Africa must move past the idea that reform models must always come from abroad.
He pointed to Nigeria’s reforms, including offering identity cards at supermarkets in London, as inspirational.
Such progress, he said, proves that African nations can lead and learn from each other.
He also praised Gambia’s cautious and thoughtful approach to reform implementation.
“Nigeria can learn from Gambia’s deliberate and measured governance style,” Ayeni said.
He expressed hope that the exchange would spark further collaboration between the two nations. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Kamal Tayo Oropo
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