Cyril Ogar

The House of Representatives Committee on Public Service Matters has reviewed the 2024 budget performance of the Public Service Institute of Nigeria (PSIN) and commended the Institute’s leadership for initiating wide-ranging reforms aimed at strengthening governance, service delivery, and institutional discipline.

The commendation came during an oversight visit by members of the Committee to PSIN headquarters along the Kubwa Expressway, Abuja.

Speaking at the engagement, Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Engr. Sani Umar Bala, described the visit as significant, noting that it marked the Committee’s first official engagement with PSIN under the leadership of its new Administrator. He congratulated the Administrator on the appointment and expressed the Committee’s readiness to work closely with the Institute to promote accountability, innovation, and sustainable institutional growth.

Hon. Bala recalled that the Committee’s last oversight visit to PSIN took place in July of the previous year, during which key recommendations were made, particularly the need for the Institute to evolve innovative strategies to boost its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and the enactment of a substantive Establishment Act to strengthen its legal and institutional framework.

He stressed that all public funds, including IGR, must be expended strictly in accordance with constitutional provisions, legislative approvals, and national priorities, adding that oversight by the National Assembly is constructive and aimed at supporting institutions to perform better.

“This visit provides an opportunity for us to receive a clear account of actions taken since our last engagement, the reforms introduced, challenges encountered, and the strategic direction the Institute is now pursuing,” the Committee Chairman said.

In her address, the Administrator of the Public Service Institute of Nigeria Administrator/ CEO, Barrister Imeh Okon welcomed members of the Committee and described the visit as timely, coming shortly after the completion of his first 100 days in office. He explained that the period was deliberately focused on understanding the institution, engaging staff, and restoring operational discipline rather than publicity.

According to her, management instituted monthly whole-of-staff engagement forums, reinstated weekly departmental meetings, and introduced staff morale initiatives aimed at strengthening teamwork, accountability, and a sense of belonging.

On service delivery, Barrister Imeh Okon disclosed that PSIN successfully completed the onboarding of its Computer-Based Test (CBT) Centre as an accredited facility by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), strengthening the Institute’s capacity to deliver technology-driven and credible assessments.

Shee added that over 400 public servants from various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) were trained during the period, while PSIN also conducted nationwide promotion examinations for more than 2,600 staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

The Administrator further highlighted steps taken to restore financial discipline, including strengthened financial controls, compliance with government financial regulations, comprehensive audits of facilities and assets, and the recovery and regularisation of outstanding revenues, all aimed at promoting transparency and value for money.

Physical infrastructure improvements were also recorded, with renovated lecture rooms, rehabilitated facilities, improved sanitation systems, fumigation of the premises, and enhanced security measures to protect government assets.

Looking ahead, he outlined plans to modernise PSIN’s curriculum, expand e-learning and blended learning platforms, digitise internal processes, and fully embrace the Institute’s think-tank mandate through policy dialogues, advisory services, and strategic partnerships, including a proposed twinning arrangement with the Singapore Public Service Institute.

The highlight of the visit was the presentation of PSIN’s 2024 budget performance, in line with the Institute’s core mandate of training and continuous retraining of public servants.

Members of the Committee welcomed the presentation and reaffirmed their commitment to supporting PSIN through legislation, policy guidance, and advocacy aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s public service architecture.

Share on Facebook

Tweet

Follow us

Share

Share

Share

Share

Share