Editorial

Public Service And Transformation Agenda

Published

13 years ago

July 2, 2012

In June, last year, two epoch-making events were convoked to fashion the direction of public service in Nigeria. The first was the 41st Conference of Civil Service Commissions in the federation which held in Port Harcourt, between Thursday, June 7 through Saturday, June 9, 2012.

The second was in observance of the Annual Public Service Day, in keeping with the Tangier Declaration that set aside June 23, every year to celebrate the service. Nigeria also marked the day.

The two major events clearly underscore the importance of the public service as the pivot around which government business revolves. The theme of the Port Harcourt event in particular, “The Transformation Agenda and the Public Service in Nigeria,” indeed sought to strike a synergy with the policy direction of the federal government.

It was no surprise therefore, that contributions and eventual resolutions from the conference emphasised, among others, the need for the service to outline imperatives for transformation, key among which are: promotion of effective communication; adherence to rules and Good work – ethics; intergrity and dignity, proacative decisions and indeed expert advice to the political leadership at all times. The others include enabling sub ordinates to key into the reforms and transformations of the federal government and most importantly, the need to create harmonious work relationships with political office holders who may lack knowledge of the operations of the public service.

Like the Port Harcourt event, the June 23 Public Service Day observance in Abuja also built its theme, “Capacity Development for the implementation of the Transformation Agenda,” in tandem with popular expectations of that important service sector.

It was therefore not surprising that Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan seized the opportunity of the Dinner and Awards nite of the 2012 Public Service Day at the Presidential Villa to promise that his administration would improve the capacity of the Public Service with a view to making it a fulcrum for development in the country.

While inviting the Public Service to join in the transformation Agenda of his administration, President Jonathan said Vice President Namadi Sambo and himself only could not do everything and called on all Nigerians to join in saving the country of corrupt practices.

For some reasons, whenever the Public Service is mentioned the issue of corruption is brought up. It is said that the Public Service is the cause of corruption in Nigeria. Even against the cry of Public Servants, some people believe that even the politicians are taught to be corrupt by the Public Servants.

While we do not want to contend with those arguments, we think that assertion makes clear the point that corruption may be very deep in the Public Service. Also obvious is the fact that successive governments in the country have failed to do enough to change the situation.

We think that the Public Service is too important to be left un-protected from corruption. As the engine-room of government activities, the Public Service cannot effectively set standards, enforce rules and meet the dynamic needs of society, if corruption is allowed to dictate its pace.

It is not enough to cry woe and occasionally promise to address the problem of the Public Service, someone needs to confront the issue consciously with a view to salvaging the service. Indeed, if this administration hopes to transform Nigeria, it must first transform the Public Service.

Like the Federal Government, some states have promised to improve the capacity of the Public Service, yet the service is not ICT-compliant uptil now. States like Rivers State actually started a process of reforming the service but whether the real issues in the service would be the ones that would be addressed remains to be seen.

While we cannot hold brief for the Public Service over corrupt practices, poor service delivery, indiscipline and lack of commitment, Nigeria cannot expect to reap from where it had not sown. A country where the only thing that seems to happen is politics cannot do much for her Public Service.

Apart from intimidating the service to the level of servitude, successive governments fail to note that if the Public Service is not better than the private sector, governance would be worse for it. The country need not expect much from a Public Service used, principally, to provide employment instead of facilitate governance.

Also laughable is the conditions of service in the Public Service. Apart from the poor remuneration regime, the average Public Servant has no access to housing, reliable transportation and affordable healthcare. Anyone whose future is not guaranteed, but is exposed to public resource, the temptation can be too much.

If the worker has nothing to lose by way of housing or any other benefit he/she would enjoy at the end of a meritorious service, the worker may not be very productive and would not care how low he/she gets to be relevant in the society. Even those that served well as Public Servants in those days did so because, housing and welfare of the staff were guaranteed.

Only recently, Public Servants were to be paid a new National Minimum Wage and the subject was politicised and manipulated. After claims of harmonisation and the implementation of a new wage many are still asking if what happened was the much talked about new wage.

Till now even some of the rich states have failed to do right or complete the payment of the harmonisation arrears. Under the above circumstance, how can any serious minded people expect any miracle from the Public Service. Sadly, the prospect of receiving their due pension even on retirement is still an issue. Having not received housing loan to build for themselves before retirement, an average Public Servant fears to retire. Clearly, Nigeria can do better.

Editorial

No To Political Office Holders’ Salary Hike

Published

3 days ago

September 22, 2025

Uchechukwu Okwum

Nigeria’s Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) has unveiled a gratuitous proposal to increase the salaries of political and public office holders in the country. This plan seeks to fatten the pay packets of the president, vice-president, governors, deputy governors, and members of the National and State Assemblies. At a time when the nation is struggling to steady its economy, the suggestion that political leaders should be rewarded with more money is not only misplaced but insulting to the sensibilities of the ordinary Nigerian.

What makes the proposal even more opprobrious is the dire economic condition under which citizens currently live. The cost of living crisis has worsened, inflation has eroded the purchasing power of workers, and the naira continues to tumble against foreign currencies. The majority of Nigerians are living hand to mouth, with many unable to afford basic foodstuffs, medical care, and education. Against this backdrop, political office holders, who already enjoy obscene allowances, perks, and privileges, should not even contemplate a salary increase.

It is, therefore, not surprising that the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has stepped in to challenge this development. SERAP has filed a lawsuit against the RMAFC to halt the implementation of this salary increment. This resolute move represents a voice of reason and accountability at a time when public anger against political insensitivity is palpable. The group is rightly insisting that the law must serve as a bulwark against impunity.

According to a statement issued by SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the commission has been dragged before the Federal High Court in Abuja. Although a hearing date remains unconfirmed, the momentous step of seeking judicial redress reflects a determination to hold those in power accountable. SERAP has once again positioned itself as a guardian of public interest by challenging an elite-centric policy.

The case, registered as suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1834/2025, specifically asks the court to determine “whether RMAFC’s proposed salary hike for the president, vice-president, governors and their deputies, and lawmakers in Nigeria is not unlawful, unconstitutional and inconsistent with the rule of law.” This formidable question goes to the very heart of democratic governance: can those entrusted with public resources decide their own pay rises without violating the constitution and moral order?

In its pleadings, SERAP argues that the proposed hike runs foul of both the 1999 Nigerian Constitution and the RMAFC Act. By seeking a judicial declaration that such a move is unlawful, unconstitutional, and inconsistent with the rule of law, the group has placed a spotlight on the tension between self-serving leadership and constitutionalism. To trivialise such an issue would be harum-scarum, for the constitution remains the supreme authority guiding governance.

We wholeheartedly commend SERAP for standing firm, while we roundly condemn RMAFC’s selfish proposal. Political office should never be an avenue for financial aggrandisement. Since our leaders often pontificate sacrifice to citizens, urging them to tighten their belts in the face of economic turbulence, the same leaders must embody sacrifice themselves. Anything short of this amounts to double standards and betrayal of trust.

The Nigerian economy is not buoyant enough to shoulder the additional cost of a salary increase for political leaders. Already, lawmakers and executives enjoy allowances that are grossly disproportionate to the national average income. These earnings are sufficient not only for their needs but also their unchecked greed. To even consider further increments under present circumstances is egregious, a slap in the face of ordinary workers whose minimum wage remains grossly insufficient.

Resources earmarked for such frivolities should instead be channelled towards alleviating the suffering of citizens and improving the nation’s productive capacity. According to United Nations statistics, about 62.9 per cent of Nigerians were living in multidimensional poverty in 2021, compared to 53.7 per cent in 2017. Similarly, nearly 30.9 per cent of the population lives below the international poverty line of US$2.15 per day. These figures paint a stark picture: Nigeria is a poor country by all measurable standards, and any extra naira diverted to elite pockets deepens this misery.

Besides, the timing of this proposal could not be more inappropriate. At a period when unemployment is soaring, inflation is crippling households, and insecurity continues to devastate communities, the RMAFC has chosen to pursue elite enrichment. It is widely known that Nigeria’s economy is in a parlous state, and public resources should be conserved and wisely invested. Political leaders must show prudence, not profligacy.

Another critical dimension is the national debt profile. According to the Debt Management Office, Nigeria’s total public debt as of March 2025 stood at a staggering N149.39 trillion. External debt obligations also remain heavy, with about US$43 billion outstanding by September 2024. In such a climate of debt-servicing and borrowing to fund budgets, it is irresponsible for political leaders to even table the idea of inflating their salaries further. Debt repayment, not self-reward, should occupy their minds.

This ignoble proposal is insensitive, unnecessary, and profoundly reckless. It should be discarded without further delay. Public office is a trust, not an entitlement to wealth accumulation. Nigerians deserve leaders who will share in their suffering, lead by example, and prioritise the common good over self-indulgence. Anything less represents betrayal of the social contract and undermines the fragile democracy we are striving to build.

Editorial

No To Political Office Holders’ Salary Hike

Published

3 days ago

September 22, 2025

The Tide

Editorial

Rivers’ Retirees: Matters Arising

Published

3 weeks ago

September 8, 2025

The Tide

The Rivers State Government deserves commendation for the manner in which it conducted the last biometric exercise for pensioners in the state. For the first time in many years, the verification process was not only efficient but also humane, a development that has brought relief to a category of citizens that often bears the brunt of neglect.

Unlike previous verification exercises that left pensioners exhausted and unattended, the latest exercise set a refreshing precedent. Retirees were given proper and sumptuous meals, and in addition, the government paid the sum of N10,000 into their accounts to cushion their transportation costs. Such gestures go a long way in demonstrating that those who had laboured for the state are not forgotten in their twilight years.

The measure was particularly necessary given that some pensioners had to travel long distances to reach their verification centres. For elderly men and women, such journeys come with physical and financial strain. By recognising these realities and easing the burden, the government has shown that pensioners deserve dignity, not disdain.

Beyond this laudable act of consideration, the authorities must reflect on the very structure of pension verification. The era of compelling retirees to be physically present for routine verification should be reconsidered. With digital tools and innovation, the government can adopt systems that capture and confirm data without the stress of physical assembly. This is crucial for pensioners residing in other states or even abroad.

While we acknowledge the importance of verification in cleaning up pension records, we cannot ignore the darker side of the matter. It is regrettable that some allowances continue to be paid to deceased pensioners, with relatives fraudulently collecting the funds. The latest biometrics, thankfully, exposed some of these sharp practices. The exercise, therefore, is not only about order but also about justice.

We urge families of deceased pensioners to be patriotic enough to inform the government of the deaths of their loved ones. It is deeply shameful that in some instances, individuals attempted to impersonate late pensioners during the biometrics. Such behaviour undermines the spirit of honesty and deprives genuine retirees of their due entitlements.

The exercise also revealed another important area of concern: the health of pensioners. It is reassuring to learn that the state government has reportedly promised to take over the medical treatment of some retirees who arrived for the biometrics in critical condition. This is a step in the right direction. Elderly citizens, after years of service, should have access to special health care facilities in the state. Setting aside hospitals or designated centres for the aged is not just desirable but necessary.

While pension payments in Rivers State have remained consistent, attention must now be directed towards gratuities. Senior citizens deserve to receive their retirement benefits without the bureaucratic hitches that have often marred the process. After years of loyal service, nothing is more demoralising than to see retirees languish for want of their gratuities. Every worker, as Scripture reminds us, is worthy of his wage.

Retirement, in any civilised society, should not be reduced to a sentence of suffering. In dealing with pensioners, government must consistently wear a human face. The humane manner displayed during this verification exercise should not be a one-off. It must become the norm in all dealings with retirees. Measures must continually be put in place to ensure that they do not feel abandoned by the state they served.

One welcome innovation has already been introduced. The Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral (Rtd) Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, has altered the method of gratuity payment. Pensioners now receive their monies directly into their bank accounts, eliminating the cheque-based system that for years served as fertile ground for corruption. This reform is both pragmatic and forward-looking. Similarly, the implementation of the N32,000 pension harmonisation is also commendable.

Direct payments gratuities ensure transparency and drastically reduce the possibility of diversion of funds. More importantly, they restore confidence in the system and assure pensioners that their entitlements will reach them without interference. In this way, the government has not only safeguarded the process but also upheld the principle of accountability.

Seamless gratuity payment has a ripple effect on the workforce as a whole. When workers are confident that retirement will not plunge them into hardship, the temptation to falsify age in order to remain in service is eliminated. Such reforms, therefore, enhance efficiency, honesty, and productivity in the public service.

In sum, the Rivers State Government has struck a refreshing chord in its handling of pension verification. It has shown empathy, innovation, and accountability. However, the momentum must be sustained, and the focus must shift towards modernising verification methods and prioritising retirees’ welfare in health, gratuity, and dignity.

When retirees are treated with compassion and fairness, the message to those still in service is clear: faithful service to the state will not go unrewarded. The humane verification exercise, though a single event, offers a hopeful glimpse of what governance can look like when people, especially the elderly, are placed at the heart of policy.