The Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC), Prof. Tunji Olaopa, has said citizen-centred reforms are essential to deepening democratic consolidation in Nigeria.
He stated this on Tuesday in Abuja while delivering a lecture titled “The Public Service in Challenging Times: Rethinking Praxis for More Inclusive and Innovative Reform” at the Nigeria Public Service Lecture marking the United Nations Public Service Day, organised by the Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR).
Olaopa said many past reforms failed because citizens, the basis of democratic governance, were not adequately involved. He called for reforms that are inclusive, participatory and rooted in local realities rather than imported models.
He urged stronger collaboration among government, the private sector, civil society and service users, saying innovation systems and partnerships can improve coordination, knowledge sharing and problem-solving.
He also called for greater digitisation and automation of public services to make government more accessible, efficient and less costly for citizens.
According to him, declining public trust makes it necessary to create mechanisms for citizens to take part in policy design and service delivery, while public servants must be equipped with new skills and a more human-centred mindset.
Olaopa further stressed the need for strategic communication and multi-layered partnerships across all levels of government and with innovation ecosystems, private actors and civil society to advance socially inclusive reforms.
