The Center for Fiscal Transparency and Public Integrity (CeFTPI) acknowledges the recent inauguration of the Performance Management System (PMS) by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, as part of the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan 2025 (FCSSIP). While the initiative’s stated objective of promoting transparency and accountability in service delivery is commendable, it is difficult to ignore the pattern of unfulfilled promises that have characterized similar policy pronouncements in the past.
The government has, over the years, made repeated commitments to reform and accountability, yet little has been done in terms of follow-through or transparency. Notably, the promise to implement the Oronsaye Report, which recommended the rationalization of federal agencies to reduce waste and inefficiency, remains largely unfulfilled more than a year after the government joined its predecessors in publicly committing to its implementation. Instead, Nigerians have watched how the government has ballooned the cost of governance with duplication of roles and agencies.
Similarly, earlier in this administration, the government announced that ministers and ministries would be assessed using Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), with clear deliverables set to track progress. However, these assessments were never made available for public scrutiny, thereby defeating the very essence of accountability.
The launch of another performance monitoring initiative, without a concrete mechanism for public access and independent oversight, raises questions about the government’s sincerity. Announcements alone are not reforms. If the government is serious about performance and accountability, then it must be willing to subject itself to external evaluation and open its processes to the Nigerian people.
To this end, the Center recommends the integration of its Transparency and Integrity Index (TII) into the implementation framework of the PMS. The TII, developed to assess the openness, ethical standards, and accountability of public institutions, offers a credible, data-driven framework that complements performance evaluation. The Index evaluates key variables such as public access to procurement processes, institutional anti-corruption measures, budget disclosures, and citizen engagement, all of which are fundamental to a truly accountable public service.
If the PMS is to be more than just another bureaucratic catchphrase, the SGF must demonstrate political will by endorsing transparency-oriented tools like the TII and other known good governance measurement indicators, and ensure that MDAs are not only monitored internally but also assessed through independent benchmarks.
We strongly believe that accountability must begin from the top. Without genuine commitment to transparency, beyond internal memos and high-level launches, the PMS risks joining the long list of abandoned reforms. Nigerians deserve a public service that not only talks about performance but proves it with facts, data, and open access to information.
Victor Agi
Head, Public Relations