Public sector reform requires a balance between following established processes and adapting to changing circumstances during implementation, Dr Akin Olusoji-Akinyele, an economist and policy strategist, has said.
Speaking on the Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation podcast, Reform Is Not a Guessing Game, Akinyele explained that although reforms require proper diagnosis, consultation and planning, implementation rarely follows a straight line.
“There’s the science and there’s the art,” he said. “All those things are in a box called all things being equal. And right there is the problem because all things are not equal on the streets of Nigeria.”
He said reformers must recognise that the conditions under which policies are designed can change once implementation begins. This makes continuous engagement with beneficiaries and the willingness to adjust essential to achieving the intended outcomes.
“The reform itself is not complete until the beneficiary has given you some form of feedback as to, is this working?” he said, adding that reformers must remain flexible enough to make necessary adjustments without losing sight of the original objectives.
Dr Dere Awosika, a former permanent secretary, also emphasised that reforms must remain focused on the people they are intended to serve and take account of prevailing circumstances.
“It’s for whom? It’s for the people,” she said. “If your reform is not going to take the current situation over the past that led to wanting to do the reform in the first place, then something is wrong.”
Moderated by Ofovwe Aig-Imoukhuede, Executive Vice Chair of the Foundation, the conversation explored how public sector leaders can move beyond policy design to effective implementation.
The discussion provides context for the Foundation’s Public Sector Reform Playbook, which will be launched in Abuja on 19 November to support public sector leaders with practical guidance for implementing reforms.
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