By Abubakar Khadija (U21MM2005)
At an international conference hosted by the Department of Public Administration, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Katsina State Governor, Malam Dikko Umaru Radda, PhD, CON, remarked that while Nigeria is blessed with strong and capable individuals, its institutions remain weak.
The conference, themed “Rethinking Public Administration and Governance for Effective Service Delivery and Development,” was held on Monday, July 7, 2025, at the Local Government and Development Studies Theatre, Kongo Campus.
Governor Radda, who chaired the occasion, emphasized the importance of public administration in achieving meaningful governance. He noted that no government can succeed without a solid administrative foundation. Reflecting on his own leadership in Katsina State, he shared that one of his earliest priorities as governor was reforming the state’s public service sector to enhance efficiency and impact.
He also highlighted the role of academic gatherings like this conference in addressing national governance challenges and urged students to be disciplined and committed to national development.
In his welcome address, the Vice-Chancellor of ABU, Professor Adamu Ahmed, praised Governor Radda, an alumnus of the university, for his leadership and innovation in governance. He cited Radda’s deployment of technologies such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to improve planning and transparency, alongside a strong focus on social infrastructure and citizen welfare, as examples of effective public administration.
Professor Ahmed added that Nigeria’s democratic journey continues to face setbacks, such as weak institutions, poor service delivery, and a growing trust gap between citizens and government. However, he stressed that these challenges are surmountable with bold reforms and visionary leadership.
The Head of Department, Professor Lawal Saleh, described the conference theme as both timely and essential, stressing the urgent need to revamp Nigeria’s administrative systems.
Similarly, Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, represented by Professor Aminu Ladan Sharehu, noted that restoring public trust requires people centered governance. He emphasized that the government must view citizens as active partners in development.
A key paper was presented by the Director-General of the Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR), Mr. D.I. Arabi, who defined public service reforms as deliberate efforts to enhance accountability, efficiency, and service delivery. He predicted that the Nigerian Civil Service would become entirely paperless within the next five years.
Mr. Arabi emphasized that public servants play a crucial role in shaping and implementing government policies, and that reforms must target not only systems but also the underlying culture of administration.
The conference concluded with award presentations to distinguished guests, including a plaque presented to Governor Radda by the Vice-Chancellor and certificates of recognition awarded to other key contributors.
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