BPSR Institutionalizes IPPIS, Partners NIPR on Public Information Management

BPSR Institutionalizes IPPIS, Partners NIPR on Public Information Management
‘BPSR is gradually facilitating the building of Nigeria’s Public Service into a highly functional, professional, customer-focused and result-oriented institution, as it has already installed a new pay regime in the public service, structured the alignment of ministries thereby reducing the number of ministries, conducted age profiling succession analysis of the public service, undertook the cleaning up of personnel payroll in the public service, been organizing pre-retirement training and then reformed tax, budget, expenditure, immigration and due process in Public Procurement, among other critical reforms,’ says Dr. Dasuki Ibrahim Arabi.

Dr. Arabi, Director-General of the Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR), made this known while hosting the executive officials of Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) led by the President, Mallam Mukhtar Sirajo, who paid him a courtesy call.

At BPSR Conference Room, Ibrahim Arabi, said the Bureau has also facilitated the institutionalization of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), restructuring of the Niger-Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and offered consultancy support for the development of Governance and Operational Guidelines for the Solid Minerals Development Fund (SMDF).

“We have designed a new Structure and management framework for the Atomic Energy Commission, and also deployed first electronic FOI portal in Nigeria. We also carried out institutional assessment and review of the Police Service Commission (PSC), UBEC, the Police Complaint and Rapid Response Unit and National Human Rights Commission (NHRC),” he added.

The Director-General, further disclosed that BPSR also conducted study on governance constraints and bottlenecks to service delivery in Nigeria at the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), whereby the outcomes of this study are now being implemented by the four selected and other relevant government agencies.

He said: “At the moment, BPSR is working with the Vice-President’s office to identify and implement recommendations in Federal Government White Paper on the rationalization of Government Agencies and Parastatals. We are also conducting the 2nd National Public Perception Survey on government reform efforts. We are conducting an Induction Programme for Boards of Federal Parastatals and Federal Teaching Hospitals and Medical Centres.

“We are carrying out a study on Freedom of Information (FOI) in Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Federal Ministry of Finance, and the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), among others. Equally, we’re developing a robust Monitoring & Evaluation System for MDAs.”

Dr. Arabi, who expressed gratitude for the courtesy visit, assured his guests that BPSR will effectively collaborate and mutually partner NIPR in order to ensure that quality and service-delivery is not compromised by government’s agencies.

In a remark, Mall. Sirajo, maintained that if Public Relations (PR) dimension is not factored in the formulation of policies and designing of programmes, facing hiccups or challenges will become inevitable during the implementation stage.

He thanked Dr. Arabi for recognizing the importance of PR in public service information management and policy-formulation, while expressing dismay that both present and successive governments failed to recognize the aspect of law which establish NIPR.

“Perception-management must, and should be given its due regard in the formulation and execution of government’s policies. And it is something we are strongly advocating. We equally believe that our advocacy should start from BPSR. Hence, we want BPSR to help us put an end to the reckless appointments of unqualified persons and other professionals who are not PR experts as spokesperson for MDAs and key public office holders. We want BPSR to join us advocate that only experienced PR officers should be employed as spokespersons at Nigerian embassies in various countries, so as to colorfully-remodel the battered image of our country” the NIPR President said.

By PRNigeria