The inaugural Public Sector Risk and Governance Summit (PSRGS) organised by Conrad Clark Nigeria Limited (CCN) – a leading strategic risk and performance management consulting firm – and its partners took place on November 30 at the Idris Abdulkadir Auditorium of the National Universities Commission (NUC) in Abuja.
The summit held amid diverse political and socio-economic challenges faced by the Nigerian government. As government officials and experts deliberated on risk governance at the summit, oil prices dropped to nearly $70 per barrel, tumbling from a three-year high of above $86 in October, due to the spread of Omicron, the new COVID-19 variant.
The highly anticipated summit themed, “Unlocking the Heart of Nigeria – A Risk-Based Approach,” was chaired by Nigerian Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN – who was represented by Senior Special Assistant on Policy Research, Office of the Vice President, Chris Ngwodo. The summit highlighted ways of improving the practice and competence of risk management in the public sector to enable government institutions to improve performance and achieve their objectives and mandates.
Speakers at the summit also discussed the importance of public transparency and accountability as a means to improving good governance and economic opportunities. Other summit topics focused on the tools for managing risk and measuring performance outcomes in the public sector, and reducing the risk of unfulfilled political promises to boost public trust and confidence in government.
In his welcome address, Summit Host and Managing Director/CEO of Conrad Clark Nigeria, Joachim A. Adenusi, said the summit was the company’s modest effort aimed at supporting, strengthening and positioning the Nigerian public sector as one of the best and most effective in a post-Covid world facing various disruptions. He said risk governance is important in handling the effect of unplanned changes to or deviations from set goals, which could diminish performance outcomes. According to Adenusi, there is a need for strategic planning to “identify, assess, prioritize and urgently deal with the complexity, challenges and opportunities facing political leaders and public sector professionals.”
Chief Operations Officer and Senior Fellow, Economic Policy, Strategy and Competitiveness at the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), Dr. Tayo Aduloju, gave the first presentation at the summit. Speaking on Public Transparency and Accountability Risks, Dr. Aduloju, who spoke virtually via Zoom, said public transparency and accountability across governance value chains are core elements of building a modern and democratically governed economic system. However, failures in these elements ensure that good governance and economic success become impossible.
Dr. Aduloju noted that risk-based governance systems for auditing and investigation would prevent Nigeria’s “decades-long political, policy, legislative and regulatory binding constraints.” Per the NESG Senior Fellow, such governance systems would eliminate endemic corruption in the country and create an “enabling investment climate and business environment, underpinned by a motivated, capacitated, well-resourced, world-class civil service that drives open, transparent, high-performance governance at all levels.”
Prof. Peter Young, 3M Chair in International Business at the University of St. Thomas, USA, said public servants need to think about crises before they occur, rather than after they occur. A leading thinker in public sector risk management, Professor Young said governments exist “to manage social, economic
and political risks,” as he went on to mention various risk management functions and tools of government, including regulation, stewardship and collaboration – which he called “the central ethos of public sector risk management.” The American professor proposed the idea that risk management courses should be taught in public administration programmes and universities, colleges and technical schools.
Other presentations were delivered by Prof. Mohammed L. Ahmadu, Special Assistant to the President on Research and Special Duties; Dr. Majak D’Agoot, Visiting Senior Research Fellow at King’s College London; and Osita Chidoka, Founder of Unlock Naija. Speaking on Measuring Performance Outcomes in the Public Sector, Prof. Ahmadu, said an effective public sector is key to shaping a nation’s progress and development. He also highlighted the International Civil Service Effectiveness (InCiSE) Index, a global framework that provides indicators for assessing civil service effectiveness around the world, proposing that coherent, comprehensive, actionable and transparent policies are key to delivery of quality public service and performance improvement in Nigeria.
Former Corps Marshal and Chief Executive of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mr. Chidoka, said goals are vital for reforms but they need continuity. He said this while emphasising the corporate transformation he spearheaded at FRSC, and at the Federal Ministry of Aviation. He called on public officials to embrace creativity, underpinned by innovation, while also imbibing a culture of measuring, monitoring and evaluating their promises to improve public trust.
Other speakers at the summit were Aliyu Abdullahi, Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the President of Nigeria; Ruth Olofin, Acting Executive Director of CLEEN Foundation; Damilola Sonayon, Youth Advocate and Social Policy Practitioner; Dr. Chukwuma Katchy, Managing Partner of KPT Associates; and Senator Abiodun Olujimi, Chairman of Senate Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations.
Habiba Balogun, Principal Consultant at Habiba Balogun Consulting; Adeoti Dipeolu, Researcher at African Leadership Centre, London; Davida Ademuyiwa, Councillor for Basildon Council, Essex, United Kingdom; and Ambassador Hassan Jika Ardo, Former High Commissioner of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to Trinidad and Tobago, also spoke at the PSRGS.
The summit was organised in collaboration with CLEEN Foundation, a civil society organisation focused on promoting public safety, security and accessible justice; Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) and the Integrity Organisation, an anti-corruption research, advocacy and consulting organisation. Conrad Clark’s CEO said the firm would be launching a simple guide to managing risks in the public sector next year.
In the context of the Public Sector Risk and Governance Summit, which addresses the high-stress roles in the public sector and the complexity of governance, it is vital to recognize the importance of stress management for professionals in these fields. Responsible participation in leisure activities, such as spela baccarat, can offer much-needed mental rest and relaxation.