By Ikenna Osuoha
The House of Representatives Committee on Public Service has commended the Administrator, Public Service Institute of Nigeria (PSIN), Ms Imeh Okon for enshrining excellence in the institute.
The House Committee Chairman on Public Service, Rep. Sani Bala, gave the commendation during an oversight visit by the committee to the Institute’s headquarters, in Abuja.
Bala described the engagement as significant and timely, noting that the committee was impressed by the clarity of vision, accountability measures, and early progress achieved under the new administrator.
While congratulating Okon on her appointment, he expressed the committee’s readiness to work closely with her to strengthen the institute’s mandate and institutional growth.
The lawmaker recalled that several recommendations were made, including the need for innovative strategies to improve Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and the enactment of a substantive Establishment Act for PSIN.
He commended the administrator for emphasising financial discipline, transparency, and compliance with constitutional and legislative provisions, adding that the visit provided an opportunity to assess progress made so far.
Earlier, Okon thanked the National Assembly for its sustained interest in strengthening public institutions.
She said that her first 100 days in office focused on understanding the institute, rebuilding internal systems, and restoring basic operational discipline rather than publicity.
According to her, staff engagement is prioritised through direct interactions, the introduction of monthly whole-of-staff forums, reinstatement of weekly departmental meetings, and simple morale-boosting initiatives.
On service delivery, the PSIN administrator said that the institute had completed the final on-boarding of its Computer-Based Test (CBT) Centre on the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) list of accredited centres.
She said that no fewer than 400 public servants from various Ministries, Departments and Agencies had been trained within the period, while PSIN successfully conducted nationwide promotion examinations for over 2,600 staff of INEC.
Okon highlighted measures taken to restore financial discipline, including strengthened financial controls, audits of facilities and assets, recovery of outstanding revenues, and strict alignment of expenditures with Federal Government regulations.
She said that these steps were critical to rebuilding institutional credibility and value-for-money culture.
She outlined plans to modernise PSIN’s curriculum, expand e-learning and blended learning platforms, digitise registration and certification processes, and strengthen performance management systems.
She also revealed plans to reposition PSIN as a policy think tank and global centre of excellence through policy dialogues, strategic partnerships, and a proposed twinning arrangement with the Singapore Public Service Institute.
The highlight of the visit was the presentation of PSIN’s 2024 budget performance, as the Committee reaffirmed its commitment to supporting reforms that enhance professionalism, and efficiency in Nigeria’s public service. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Uche Anunne
