Akume charges CEOs to lead with integrity, accountability, vision

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, has charged Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of federal agencies to uphold accountability, transparency, and integrity in their duties, describing public service leadership as “a sacred trust held on behalf of the Nigerian people.”

Akume gave the charge at the opening ceremony of the 13th Cohort of the Mandatory Training Programme (MTP) for chief executives of federal agencies, organised by the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON) in Badagry, Lagos.

Represented by Prof. Simon Akaayar of the University of Lagos, Akume said the CEOs were appointed based on their proven competence and must align with President Bola Tinubu’s vision of rebuilding and repositioning Nigeria through effective governance and institutional reform.

“Leadership in the public service is fundamentally about stewardship, accountability, and impact,” Akume said.

“Every public officer holds office in trust for the people and must therefore demonstrate integrity, transparency, and commitment to service,” he added.

He stressed that as heads of agencies, the CEOs serve as the direct link between government and citizens, and their efficiency, responsiveness, and quality of service determine public confidence in governance.

Akume highlighted President Tinubu’s eight-point Renewed Hope Agenda, adding that the creation of the Policy Coordination Office would ensure all agencies align with measurable national outcomes. He said the CEOs’ performance contracts were designed to translate government policies into tangible benefits for Nigerians.

“The mission of governance is in your hands. Every reform and every promise we make as a government will only be realised through your strength, integrity, innovation, and discipline,” he said.

He explained that the training programme was a deliberate policy intervention to close leadership and governance gaps, equipping appointees with a deeper understanding of fiscal responsibility, ethics, and accountability in public administration.

In her remarks, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Didi Esther Walson-Jack, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to building a competent, ethical, and digitally driven civil service under the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan 2021–2025 (FCSSIP25).

“The programme reflects our collective commitment to building a public service that is competent, ethical, digitally empowered, and citizen-centred,” she said.

She emphasised the six strategic pillars of the FCSSIP25-capability building, performance management, innovation, digitalisation, integrated payroll systems, and staff welfare, noting that leadership remains central to every reform effort.

Walson-Jack announced that participants would later proceed to Abuja for an executive masterclass designed to prepare senior officials for dignified transitions and knowledge retention.

Also speaking, the Lagos State Head of Service, Mr Bode Agoro, underscored the importance of continuous training and retraining to enhance accountability and leadership effectiveness in governance.

“Given the dynamic nature of public service and technological change, our leaders must continually upgrade their skills and strategic thinking,” Agoro said.

Earlier, ASCON Director-General, Mrs Funke Femi Adepoju, said the programme was aimed at strengthening leadership capacity across federal parastatals, ensuring alignment with national priorities and the president’s focus on competence and ethical governance.

“Through this programme, we are building a community of leaders who will champion reforms and deliver measurable outcomes for national development,” Adepoju said, urging participants to apply their lessons toward institutional transformation.