Tinubu demands stricter accountability in public service

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Photo: State House

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President Bola Tinubu on Sunday urged stricter enforcement of accountability mechanisms across government to rebuild public trust.

Speaking at the third Nigeria Excellence Awards in Public Service held at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja, Sunday night, the President warned that weak sanction systems and lax oversight often fuel cynicism about governance.

Tinubu was represented by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris.

He observed, “The unsystematic enforcement of law and institutional mechanisms for holding civil servants and public officials accountable will always lead to a negative impression on the citizens.

“I wish that leaders would arise and stand up to be counted among leaders who have distinguished themselves to do the right thing and leave their footprints on the sands of time.”

The President argued that public service is a trust that must be exercised with “responsibility, integrity, loyalty and efficiency,” adding that officers are expected to think creatively to solve citizens’ problems.

“Report cards are due,” he told the audience, noting that the awards ceremony, organised by The Best Strategic Media in collaboration with the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, relies on performance indices, not politics, to select honourees.

“These awards are born out of empirical evidence of performance and not politics,” he said, commending 50 recipients drawn from federal and state institutions, including some governors and ministers.

While acknowledging the persistence of graft worldwide, the President listed nepotism, cronyism and patronage as vices that distract civil services from their mandates.

He backed independent monitoring and consequences for misconduct as essential to reversing the trend.

Tinubu praised NEAPS convener, Ms Mariam Mohammed, saying the initiative will challenge officials to raise standards because “they know they are being monitored by the people.”

He urged the honourees to treat the plaques as a spur to do more.

“This award is a validation of your approach, but much more a motivation to continue doing more towards the attainment of a better Nigeria,” he said.

Meanwhile, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, charged recipients to “not relent” in their contributions to nation-building, saying continuous growth and development “must remain our collective aspiration.”

Akume urged honourees to treat the recognition as a call to higher duty.

“Do not slow down. Keep contributing to the growth and development of the public service and the society at large,” he told the awardees, adding that excellence should be sustained beyond ceremonies.

The former Benue Governor commended TBS Media for a “thorough job” in evaluating performance and pledged continued collaboration.

He said the annual awards provide a credible scorecard for public officers and an incentive to improve service delivery.

President Bola Tinubu attended the event to recognise the winners and “charge them to do more,” Akume said, underscoring the administration’s support for initiatives that reward integrity, accountability and results in government.

He urged the recipients to keep standards high and deepen reforms in their spheres of influence.

“Growth and development should continually be our aspiration,” he said.

The awards recognise innovation, purposeful leadership and outstanding impact across public institutions.

This year’s edition honoured 44 individuals and organisations selected “based on empirical facts and figures,” the organiser noted.

Some of those honoured included Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri; Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed; Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni; Kogi State Governor Usman Ododo; Akwa Ibom State Governor Umo Eno; Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Finance Minister Wale Edun; Aviation and Aerospace Minister Festus Keyamo; Comptroller-General of Immigration Kemi Nandap; Director/CEO of the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, Hafsat Bakari; Director-General of NEMA, Zubaida Umar; Central Bank Governor, Olayemi Cardoso; Corps Marshal of the FRSC, Shehu Mohammed; Minister of State for Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim; NDLEA Chairman, Brig-Gen. Buba Marwa (retd.), and Information Minister, Mohammed Idris.

With three years of experience, Stephen, The PUNCH correspondent, has been covering Nigeria’s presidency, politics, security, immigration and trafficking in persons

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