By Henry Akubuiro
Bukar Usman deeply understands the importance of documentation in the intellectual enterprise. Aside his well researched books on public administration, governance, leadership, national security, literature, folklore, history, education, language and culture, he ensures that reviews of his books in public domain, readers’ feedback and his public speaking engagements are not left out of proper documentation by collating and publishing them as books or pamphlets to be distributed far and wide. Usman believes that knowledge shared among a limited audience is almost a waste of knowledge. Reflections on Nigerian Public Service: Way Forward for Governance (2024) is one of such publications that has graduated from a paper presentation to a book.
Usman has demonstrated, overtime, he has a good grasp on the workings and history of the Nigerian Public Service terrain, having risen through the ranks to retire as a permanent secretary in the presidency. Reflections on the Nigerian Public Service: Way Forward for Governance is originally a lead paper presented at a symposium organised by the Council of Retired Federal Permanent Secretaries (CORFEPS) to mark its maiden Annual Week, held at Rotunda, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abuja, March 5-7, 2024.
“The Nigerian Public Service, in extensive terms, is the all-inclusive umbrella that covers the Nigerian Civil Service and all other services and undertakings that run or oversee Nigerian public affairs,” he introduced the subject. Taking Nigeria’s political history into cognizance, Usman compares the public service during colonial and post-colonial Nigeria vis-à-vis the structure, character and performance of each. He cites 1914 as the takeoff of Nigerian colonial public service, for it was a year Nigeria became a unified entity geographically, politically and administratively, under British Governor-General, Lord Fredrick Lugard.
For Usman, Nigeria’s Public Service during the colonial era was comparatively simple compared to the intricate structure of the post-colonial era. Post-colonial structural changes, he says, began in 1967 with a 12-state structure that replaced the colonial regional arrangement. The colonial era, he said, was characterised by a wholesale devotion to service delivery, discipline, available tools for service delivery, transparency in disbursement of funds, integrity, devotion to duty, and due process, He adds: “Effort was made at National Planning to conceive development targets and serious commitment and actual work done to achieve planned targets.”
Usman was active in the post-colonial Public Service, from 1965, when he became a junior officer graded as a Third-Class Clerk. He served until his retirement from the service in 1999. The period he functioned as a public servant witnessed the most changes in the political system – parliamentary, military and presidential administrations. The author testifies that the culture and momentum in terms of practices and procedures obtainable in the Nigerian Public Service of the colonial era were inherited and observed to a reasonable extent in the immediate post-colonial years. He observes that existing working relationship was worsened by the purge in the civil service in 1975 and the civil service reforms of 1988, both by the military.
Usman, having seen it all, is full of ideas on the way forward for governance in Nigeria, recommending multifaceted solutions to the areas of serious concern expressed by the public. He encourages private-public partnership. He says the calls for serious reforms require the involvement and contributions of stakeholders in the society, who must be cultivated and engaged constantly. He cites the academia, labour unions, organised private sector, the media, professional societies, traditional and religious institutions, among other pillars of stability in the country, as useful allies.
He suggests adherence to universal principles of management and a return to past practices, procedures, and performances of the Nigerian Public Service and general conduct of public affairs. He would also like the conduct of elections to be significantly improved upon and transparency introduced in the system. The author recommends financial probity. He also canvasses that a general reform of financial management in the Nigerian Public Service would provide the resources to fund the much-needed critical infrastructure and services. In addition, he addresses conflict of interest, frowning at the enlightenment of “private interest” by many public servants, even as he cautions that public servants should stand by truth in their armour and exhibit transparency and accountability in their conduct.
Among the recommendations include the need for strict enforcement of the rules by those entrusted with the dispensation of justice, such as the Code of Conduct Bureau, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC), and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC). He echoes that the cost of governance needs to be reviewed and drastically reduced by checking glaring cases of leakages through embezzlement, misappropriation and diversion of public funds. He emphasises on public safety.
The author also campaigns for improved power generation and supply, developing a functional iron and steel industry, and improving mass transportation in the areas of railway, aviation and water. He laments that the “concept of mass transit is virtually nil, despite our huge population and annual budgetary provisions for it.“ He, therefore, calls on Nigerian Public Service to address the negative responses from the populace.
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