AIG-Imoukhuede reveals major challenges facing civil service in Nigeria

Aigboje AIG-Imoukhuede, former Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Access Bank, and founder of the Africa Initiative for Governance, has stated that constraints such as fiscal pressures and budget processes are among the challenges the civil service must overcome.

He also noted that youth unemployment, corruption, and waning public confidence in institutions pose challenges that require enhanced citizen engagement.

He said that continuous reforms in the civil service are crucial for enhancing efficiency, transparency, and service delivery.

He stated this as part of his keynote address at the International Civil Service Conference 2025, where he spoke on the subject, “Supporting Public Service Reforms: A Partner’s Experience.”

The former bank CEO noted that governments worldwide are under increasing pressure to improve the performance of public institutions and the delivery of public goods and services.

According to him, rapid technological advancements, evolving citizen expectations, and complex global challenges have further put greater pressure on the public sector to be agile, responsive, and dynamic in its approach to governance.

“Even the citizens of the most advanced nations have reason to demand for better performance from their public institutions,” he said.

Aigboje AIG-Imoukhuede, who is the co-chairman of the United Kingdom-Nigeria Capital Market Task Force, noted further that successful reforms must reach beyond conventional bureaucratic adjustments and must embrace innovation, digital transformation, and participatory governance to remain effective in an ever-changing world.

“Modern governments must be able to swim the tide of digital disruption, embrace the power of artificial intelligence and adapt government operating models and rules of engagement to align with 21 century realities,” he said.

“Constraints such as fiscal pressures, and budget processes, are amongst challenges to be overcome. Youth unemployment, corruption and waning public confidence in institutions pose challenges that require enhanced citizen engagement.

“Governments cannot meet the demands of its citizens by acting alone, in Africa the realities of reform require public institutions and leaders to find willing and able collaborators, whether local, regional, and international who bring added value to the reform effort.”

AIG-Imoukhuede reveals major challenges facing civil service in Nigeria