Godswill Michael
The Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR) has taken the lead in repositioning Nigeria’s civil service through Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven reforms designed to transform governance, enhance transparency, and improve service delivery.
In collaboration with the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) and BudgIT Foundation, the Bureau on Thursday in Abuja launched a capacity-building workshop aimed at reskilling and upskilling public servants in digital innovation, governance, and accountability.
The workshop, themed “AI-Driven Reforms: Strengthening Public Sector Innovation and Accountability,” forms part of ongoing efforts by BPSR to ensure that Nigeria’s public institutions adapt to the fast-changing global digital landscape.
Speaking at the event, the Director-General of BPSR, Mr. Dasuki Ibrahim Arabi, said it was time for the public sector to fully embrace artificial intelligence as a catalyst for efficiency and transparency in governance.
“As Nigeria, like other nations, embraces AI to redefine the workings of the public service, we must not stand on the sidelines,” Arabi said. “The future of effective public service lies in how intelligently we integrate technology into governance systems to drive transparency, efficiency, and accountability.”
Arabi stressed that modern governance now demands civil servants who are not only administratively skilled but also data-driven and technology-oriented.
“Every officer, manager, and executive must understand the strategic value of AI and data analytics in policy planning, budgeting, monitoring, and citizen engagement,” he added.
He revealed that the Federal Government has approved the adoption of emerging technologies such as AI and blockchain as part of the Nigeria e-Government Master Plan, a policy framework guiding digital transformation in public institutions nationwide.
The BPSR chief also called for stronger collaboration among government agencies, the private sector, and civil society to deepen AI adoption based on ethics, transparency, and citizen trust.
“Technology is only as good as the values guiding its use,” Arabi noted. “Transparency in algorithmic decisions, data privacy, and fairness must remain central to our AI-driven reforms. Citizens must trust that technology is used to empower, not exclude them.”
Adding her voice, the Director-General of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), Dr. Zahrah Mustapha Audu, described artificial intelligence as an essential tool for redefining governance and improving the citizen experience.
“Technologies like AI are vital to transforming how citizens experience government,” she said, commending BPSR for “championing digital literacy and innovation within the civil service.”
Representing the FCTA, Ajayi Rotimi Babatunde said the adoption of AI would significantly improve efficiency, productivity, and decision-making across government institutions. He described AI as “a pathway to building a skilled and adaptive civil service fit for the present and the future.”
Beyond governance reforms, the initiative aligns with the broader global agenda for sustainable development, which also ties into Nigeria’s ongoing struggle for food security—a concern that was in focus earlier this week during the commemoration of World Food Day (October 16).
World Food Day, established by the United Nations in 1979, seeks to raise awareness about hunger, malnutrition, and the need for sustainable food systems. In Nigeria, where millions still face food insecurity due to inflation, climate change, and insecurity in farming regions, public sector efficiency and data-driven reforms are seen as vital tools for planning and implementing effective agricultural and social policies.
By promoting digital literacy and the use of AI in public service, the BPSR’s reform drive could play a strategic role in strengthening national planning systems—including those critical to addressing hunger and poverty.
Through initiatives like this, the Bureau of Public Service Reforms continues to position itself as a leading force in modernizing Nigeria’s governance architecture—ensuring that technology serves not just as a tool for efficiency, but as a bridge to inclusive, transparent, and accountable public service.
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