Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Sen. George Akume, has reaffirmed that President Bola Tinubu’s administration is committed to accountability and will not hesitate to make necessary changes where public officials fall short of expectations.
Akume stated this on Monday during the opening of the Mandatory Training Programme for Chief Executive Officers of Federal Government Parastatals and Agencies at the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON), Topo, Badagry, Lagos.
Represented by Prof. Simon Okoya of the University of Lagos, Akume said the President had directed him to remind public officials that leadership in government is a duty rooted in stewardship, accountability and impact.
“Every public officer holds office in trust for the people and must demonstrate integrity, transparency and commitment to service,” he said.
He noted that the performance of CEOs of government agencies significantly shapes public perception of government due to their daily interaction with citizens.
Akume reminded the CEOs of their Key Results Areas (KRAs) and Performance Contracts under the Renewed Hope Agenda, stressing their role in turning policies into tangible results.
“You sit at the heart of our transformation efforts. Every reform, every initiative and every promise made by this administration will only be achieved through your professionalism, integrity and discipline,” he said.
He commended the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF), led by Mrs. Didi Walson-Jack, for its steadfast implementation of the Mandatory Training Programme (MTP).
Speaking at the event, Walson-Jack said the two-week leadership training reflects the government’s commitment to building a competent, digitally empowered and citizen-focused public service.
“The theme — Lead Wholly, Reform, Deliver, Renew — captures the urgency of rising citizen expectations,” she said.
She assured the ASCON community and residents of Badagry that her visit would attract development to the historic town.
In his remarks, Prince Sesi Whingan, Member of the House of Representatives for Badagry Federal Constituency, described ASCON as the pride of Badagry and appealed for the completion of the second phase of the Badagry-Seme Expressway.
Lagos State Head of Service, Mr. Bode Agoro, emphasized the importance of continuous training for public service leaders.
“Chief Executives serve as the interface between policy and implementation. Their leadership must reflect excellence, integrity, accountability and empathy,” he said.
ASCON Director-General, Mrs. Funke Adepoju, said the college has evolved into Nigeria’s foremost centre for executive capacity development and a national reform accelerator.
She noted that the programme underscores the federal government’s commitment to equipping top executives with the skills required to deliver on the Renewed Hope Agenda and the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan 2025 (FCSSIP-25).
“This platform supports leadership renewal, peer learning and performance accountability to ensure national priorities translate into institutional results,” she said.
