Rahila Lassa, Abuja
The Nigerian Government is advancing key initiatives to enhance effective and efficient service delivery to the citizens.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Mr. George Akume, stated this at a Sectoral Retreat organised by his Office for Heads of Agencies, which was held in Abuja, Nigeria.
The SGF said e-Government platforms to improve service delivery, Data integration frameworks for evidence-based policy planning, and Digital dashboards for real-time monitoring of national priorities and performance indicators would be advanced.
“These tools will empower us to make better-informed decisions, track progress accurately, and communicate results effectively to the Nigerian people,” he said.
Mr Akume said the success of every government does not lie only in the strength of policies, but in how effectively these policies are executed.
According to him, the forum serves as a moment of reflection and recommitment, a time to identify and dismantle the systemic barriers that hinder effective implementation of policies in Ministries, Departments, and Agencies under the OSGF.
He said weak coordination, overlapping efforts, lack of inter-agency collaboration, and insufficient performance monitoring requires a whole of government approach to be addressed.
“This requires strengthening coordination mechanisms, leveraging digital tools, and institutionalisation performance management as the foundation of the public service culture.
“Together, we can strengthen coordination, enhance accountability, and reinforce our collective resolve to deliver on the Renewed Hope Agenda. Let us strive to make government work better, faster, and smarter for the Nigerian people,” Akume emphasised.
The SGF said, the theme, “Strengthening Coordination for Results: Aligning Mandates with Presidential and Service Priorities for Effective Policy Implementation,” captures the very heart of effective governance: ensuring that policies are not only well-designed on paper, but also executed efficiently to deliver tangible improvements in the lives of citizens.
These, he noted, also mean breaking down silos, aligning mandates, and forging powerful synergies across every Ministry, Department, and Agencies.
“Our objective is simple: to build a seamless government machinery where every component works cohesively to advance the President’s priorities”.
He emphasised that Government efficiency is not just about reducing costs or accelerating processes; it is about optimising the use of public resources to achieve the greatest possible impact.
He therefore noted that aligning the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation’s mandate with the presidential and service-wide priorities goes beyond routine compliance; it represents a call to shared accountability and purposeful action.
“We must each embrace this national development vision and translate it into tangible, measurable outcomes that improve the lives of Nigerians”.
Participants are expected to come up with practical and actionable steps that will strengthen inter-ministerial collaboration and eliminate duplication of efforts.
This includes improving the monitoring and evaluation of government projects and policies, promoting transparency and data-driven decision-making, and strengthening institutional capacity to achieve measurable and sustainable results.