Okey Ikechukwu Calls for Strategic Reforms Amid Capacity Gaps in Government Agencies

Prof. Okey Ikechukwu, Executive Director of Development Specs Academy, delved into the critical issue of capacity gaps within agencies and the broader implications for national interest and institutional longevity.

During an ARISE NEWS interview on Friday, Prof. Ikechukwu highlighted the importance of identifying these gaps, designing appropriate templates for addressing them and selecting the right personnel to execute these plans objectively.

“Any role is fixed in order to make an organisation work. Any law is made in order to make society succeed,” he stated. 

He underscored the need for reviewing rules to avoid arbitrary enforcement, stressing that a president’s primary responsibility should be the national interest, sustainable social stability, and institutional longevity.

Prof. Ikechukwu pointed out that strict adherence to rules, without considering the potential for change, could undermine arguments for reform. 

“The question that perhaps might be raised is ‘how is it in the national interest?’ That’s a matter for the customs and any other agency concerned to present, but when we harp on rules knowing that rules can be changed, knowing that no rule is eternal… extreme emphasis on that can easily make you lose the argument,” he explained.

“The question of accountability, and among other things, must not just be located in the fact of asking people to be good,” Prof. Ikechukwu remarked. 

He raised concerns about the remuneration of civil servants and workers in anti-corruption agencies compared to those causing disruptions in the country, highlighting the need for a comprehensive approach to tackle corruption.

He further criticised the overstaffing in government offices, which fosters a culture of collecting salaries without corresponding productivity. “You come into an office in the ministry where there should be four people, but that office is occupied by 16 people, and they plan who will come on Monday or Tuesday – that in itself is corruption,” he observed.

He pointed out that the prevailing notion of unearned income and false reputations has become ingrained in the national psyche. “Leadership can make a difference. You can’t expect the followership,” he stated, emphasising the role of effective leadership in driving change.

On the issue of institutional memory, Prof. Ikechukwu highlighted the problems arising from the growing trend of outsourcing and the frequent splitting of ministries. 

He advised that officials should be accompanied by personnel from the research/statistics department or media team on important actions to ensure accurate record-keeping and build institutional memory.

Frances Ibiefo

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