The President and Chairman of the Governing Council of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (CIPM), Mallam Ahmed Ladan Gobir, FCIPM, fnli has called for a fundamental transformation of Nigeria’s public service, anchored on innovation, accountability, participation, inclusion and strategic people management.
The CIPM President made the call while delivering the keynote address at the Ogun State 2026 Public Service Day Celebration Lecture, held at the Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta, on Thursday, August 13, 2026. The lecture was themed “Transforming the Public Service: Advancing Innovation, Accountability, Participation and Inclusion.”
Speaking to public and civil service leaders, scholars, organised labour, private-sector representatives and other stakeholders, Gobir emphasised that the ultimate purpose of public service is not merely to process paperwork, but to improve citizens’ lives.
He noted that citizens experience government primarily through the quality of public services they receive, stressing that “Government is an idea. Public service is its experience.” He therefore urged public institutions to move beyond measuring activity and processes to measuring the actual value and impact delivered to citizens.
