Erosion Of Value Foundation, Bane Of Civil Service, Says Olaopa

In a plea for reforming Nigeria's civil service, Prof. Tunji Olaopa, Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission, highlighted the erosion of value foundation as the primary issue plaguing the institution. Speaking at the 58th International Conference of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (CIPM) in Abuja, Olaopa emphasized that the civil service's attempts to address its problems since 1974 have largely focused on correcting the erosion of the institution's values, such as neutrality, merit, impartiality, and democratic accountability.

He stressed that restoring the value orientation of the public service is a crucial reform mission necessary to modernize the structures, processes, and procedures of the civil service, making it agile and tech-enabled. Olaopa further argued that the HR function should be at the forefront of this reform, transcending merely professionalizing the HR function or building line managers' people management skills.

Instead, HR managers must facilitate a new HR model that integrates performance management to boost productivity not only in the public sector but also in the broader national economy. Olaopa stressed the importance of fostering a learning culture that dissects the status quo and champions cultural transformation, ultimately translating desirable public service values into a new work culture that is disruptive and structurally transformative.

He commended the CIPM's theme, "Repositioning for Value and Impact," which highlights the global administrative and HR practices' direction and the challenges posed by the 4th and 5th industrial revolutions. Olaopa emphasized the necessity of strengthening the strategic partnership between CIPM and the public sector, positioning it as a crucial reform agenda item.

He also commended CIPM for its role in serving the nation and HR professionals, marking the 58th annual conference under the theme "Repositioning for Value and Impact."