The Director-General of the Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR), Mr. Dasuki Arabi, has said that meaningful engagement with citizens remains central to effective service delivery across government institutions.
He made the remark on Thursday at the Quarterly Stakeholders and Citizens Engagement Forum held in Abuja.
Arabi, who delivered a goodwill message at the event organised by the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, praised the Head of Service, Mrs. Didi Walson-Jack, OON, mni, for sustaining what he described as a vital platform for direct interaction between government and the public.
He noted that the initiative has already produced measurable gains. “It is apt to state that the laudable project on citizens and stakeholders’ engagement introduced by the office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation have recorded measurable impact in key areas such as digital transformation, new service culture and reporting to bridge the gaps between government and citizens for better service delivery,” he said.
Arabi explained that the forum aligns with the Federal Government’s commitment to inclusiveness and open governance, describing the gathering as one that “reinforces our democratic practice and serves as a vital mechanism for ensuring that public decisions align with the aspirations and needs of the communities we serve.”
He emphasised that the global shift toward participatory governance has made platforms for citizen engagement indispensable, especially in strengthening public trust.
“This is why; we must continue to engage with citizens and relevant stakeholders in achieving our national goals and objectives,” he added.
Reflecting on the theme of the meeting, Arabi said the forum offers space to evaluate progress, confront challenges, and realign priorities with the present administration’s drive for inclusive growth.
“Today’s gathering once more provides an opportunity for us to review achievements, confront challenges and align priority objectives with the current administration’s national goal on inclusive growth and strengthening governance for effective service delivery in line with the renewed hope agenda of His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR,” he stated.
He also highlighted efforts by the BPSR to strengthen citizen participation over the years. According to him, the Bureau has consistently promoted transparency, accountability, and performance-driven service delivery, while acting as a link between citizens and government institutions. He listed ongoing efforts including the promotion of the Freedom of Information Act, development of self-assessment tools for MDAs, participation in the Open Government Partnership, facilitation of town hall engagements, and the creation of digital platforms to enhance interaction with the public.
Arabi acknowledged that challenges remain but stressed that they present opportunities for improvement. He urged stronger reform efforts, institutional performance reviews, and uninterrupted dialogue mechanisms.
Closing his remarks, he called for sustained collaboration between government and the public. “It is important to remind us that dialogue remains an important tool to achieving institutional reforms; we must therefore choose the path of dialogue, constructive feedback and active participation to guide our action and strengthen public trust as well promote mutual co—creation between the state and non – state actors,” he said.
He thanked the organisers and reaffirmed the Bureau’s commitment to reforms that place citizens at the centre of governance.
