The Director-General of the Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR), Mr. Dasuki Arabi, has stressed that meaningful citizen engagement is essential to effective service delivery across government institutions.
Arabi made the remark in Abuja while delivering a goodwill message at the Quarterly Stakeholders and Citizens Engagement Forum organised by the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation.
He commended the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Walson-Jack, OON, mni, for sustaining what he described as a critical platform that promotes direct interaction between government and the public.
According to him, the initiative has recorded measurable achievements, particularly in areas such as digital transformation, the promotion of a new service culture, and improved reporting mechanisms aimed at bridging gaps between government and citizens.
“It is apt to state that this laudable citizens and stakeholders’ engagement initiative has recorded measurable impact in key areas such as digital transformation, service culture, and reporting, all of which are crucial to improving service delivery,”
He noted that the forum aligns with the Federal Government’s commitment to inclusiveness and open governance, adding that it reinforces democratic values and ensures that public policies reflect the needs and aspirations of citizens.
Arabi explained that the growing global emphasis on participatory governance has made citizen engagement platforms indispensable, especially in building public trust and accountability in governance.
Reflecting on the theme of the forum, he said the gathering provides an opportunity to assess progress, address challenges, and realign priorities with the current administration’s agenda of inclusive growth and strengthened governance under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The BPSR Director-General also highlighted the Bureau’s sustained efforts to deepen citizen participation in governance. He said the agency has continued to promote transparency, accountability, and performance-driven service delivery while serving as a bridge between citizens and government institutions.
Among the initiatives he listed were the promotion of the Freedom of Information Act, development of self-assessment tools for Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), participation in the Open Government Partnership, facilitation of town hall meetings, and deployment of digital platforms to enhance government–citizen interaction.
While acknowledging existing challenges, Arabi described them as opportunities for improvement and called for intensified reform efforts, continuous institutional performance reviews, and sustained dialogue with citizens.
He urged for stronger collaboration between the government and the public, noting that dialogue and constructive feedback remain critical to achieving institutional reforms and strengthening public trust.
Arabi reaffirmed the BPSR’s commitment to reforms that place citizens at the centre of governance and thanked the organisers for sustaining the engagement platform.