COMMUNIQUÉ ISSUED AT THE END OF STAKEHOLDERS STRATEGY MEETING ORGANIZED BY CIVIL SOCIETY LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY CENTRE (CISLAC) WITH SUPPORT FROM FEDERAL PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION REFORMS (FEPAR) AT TOP NANT HOTELS & SUITES, CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT, ABUJA ON THE 14th DAY OF NOVEMBER 2014
PREAMBLE:
The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) with the support from Federal Public Administration Reforms (FEPAR) organized a Stakeholders’ Strategy Meeting. The Meeting focused on effective strategy towards achieving inclusive Public Service Reform frameworks, primarily to promote citizens’ participation and information around critical issues of public development. The meeting drew participation from Bureau of Public Service Reforms, Federal Ministry of Power, Office of Head of Service, Professional Bodies, NGOs and the Media. After exhaustive deliberation on thematic issues, the participants observed as recommended as follows:
OBSERVATIONS:
- In Nigeria, weak coordination in public engagements on reforms planning and implementation has resulted in lack of well-informed individuals about public service reforms processes.
- Reforms in Nigeria are critical to respond to the rate of Population with of an annual rate of 3.2% therefore, only adequate reforms particularly around infrastructure can possibly alleviate the impending challenges.
- Inadequate implementation of the mandates establishing Bureau of Public Service Reforms to strengthen participatory democracy and improve citizens’ ownership of the public service reforms in Nigeria.
- Weak Advocacy skills by relevant stakeholders to effectively engage policy makers on problems confronting Nigeria Public Sector reforms.
- Inadequate public awareness and sensitization by civil society and the media on issues surrounding public service reforms in Nigeria.
- Poor political will and commitment by political parties towards actualizing public service reforms in Nigeria.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
- CISLAC with support from FEPAR was charged as a matter of urgency to develop a Policy Brief on reforms in the public sector focusing on coordination, public engagement and citizens’ understanding with clearly outlined recommendations was disseminated in its various Policy Dialogue engagements relevant stakeholders and the media.
- Policy makers should develop coherent reform strategies that will cater for the rising need of changes with the incremental population showing an improvement in citizens’ life and service through adequate diligence in the provision of infrastructure.
- Periodic coordination by Bureau of Public Service Reforms of inter-ministerial activities targeted at reforms in various sectors and development of effective indices for monitoring and evaluation with comprehensive strategy to inform public debate and citizens’ participation.
- Adequate capacity by CSOs and the Media in the aspects of systems advocacy to inform positive change in policies, laws, community attitude and practice at local, national and international level on public sector reforms in Nigeria.
- There is need develop preventive mechanisms through popular mobilization, strengthen communication using alternative media, increase cacophony of voices demanding for accountability in the reforms through various public sensitization.
- Effective Policy advocacy by CISLAC with support from FEPAR to political parties, labor organizations, religious bodies, bloggers and online freelance platforms as well as MDAs to set up a reforms desk.
- Constructive working relationship with Bureau of Public Service Reforms by CISLAC with support from FEPAR to convene meeting of Head of Reforms units in various Ministries, Departments and Agencies of Government and dialogue on reforms coordination in the Public Service.
CONCLUSION
The participants expressed appreciations to CISLAC for embarking on the training and to FEPAR for providing the support to this all important program channeled towards public service reforms. The meeting resolved to sustain activities around the public service reforms and commitments were harvested from stakeholders present on the roles they intend to play in various typologies. The meeting resolved to form a coalition of organizations present to work through various shared commitments to actualize reforms in Nigeria.
Signed:
Auwal Ibrahim Musa (Rafsanjani)
Executive Director
Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC)
Abuja
Dr. Otive Igbuzor
Executive Director
Centre LSD
Abuja
Inusa Abdul
Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR)
Abuja
Wahab Omoniyi
Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN)
Abuja
