Reps Hail PSIN Administrator Okon Over Reforms

Members of the House of Representatives Committee on Public Service Matters have commended the Administrator of the Public Service Institute of Nigeria (PSIN), Ms. Imeh Okon, for what they described as decisive reforms and a renewed institutional direction within her first 100 days in office.

The commendation was given during an oversight visit by the Committee to the Institute’s headquarters along the Kubwa Expressway, Abuja marking the Committee’s first official engagement with PSIN under Ms. Okon’s leadership.

Speaking during the visit, the Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Engr. Sani Umar Bala, described the engagement as timely and impactful, noting that the lawmakers were impressed by the clarity of vision, emphasis on accountability, and early progress recorded under the new administration.

“We are encouraged by the direction PSIN is taking. The reforms so far demonstrate focus, discipline, and a clear understanding of the Institute’s mandate,” Bala said, while congratulating Ms. Okon on her appointment and assuring her of the Committee’s readiness to support efforts aimed at strengthening the Institute.

The Committee Chairman recalled that during its last oversight visit to PSIN in July 2024, several recommendations were made, including the need for innovative strategies to boost Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and the passage of a substantive Establishment Act for the Institute. He noted that the current visit provided an opportunity to assess progress, commending the Administrator for prioritising financial discipline, transparency, and strict compliance with constitutional and legislative provisions governing public expenditure.

Earlier, Ms. Okon welcomed the lawmakers and thanked the National Assembly for its sustained interest in strengthening public service institutions. She explained that her first 100 days in office were deliberately focused on understanding the Institute’s operational challenges, rebuilding internal systems, and restoring discipline rather than publicity.

According to her, staff engagement was prioritised through direct interactions, the introduction of monthly whole-of-staff meetings, the reinstatement of weekly departmental sessions, and morale-boosting initiatives aimed at rebuilding ownership, teamwork, and institutional pride.

On service delivery, Ms. Okon disclosed that PSIN had completed the onboarding of its Computer-Based Test (CBT) Centre on the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) list of accredited centres. She also revealed that over 400 public servants across various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) had been trained within the period, while the Institute successfully conducted nationwide promotion examinations for more than 2,600 staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) across the 36 states and the FCT.

She further highlighted steps taken to restore financial discipline, including strengthened internal controls, audits of facilities and assets, recovery of outstanding revenues, and strict alignment of expenditure with Federal Government regulations—measures she said were critical to rebuilding institutional credibility and value-for-money culture.

The Administrator also briefed the Committee on key infrastructural improvements undertaken, including the rehabilitation of lecture halls and sanitary facilities, completion of abandoned projects, fumigation of the Institute’s premises, and the installation of a central sewage system for major training centres.

Looking ahead, Ms. Okon outlined plans to modernise PSIN’s curriculum, expand e-learning and blended learning platforms, digitise registration and certification processes, and strengthen performance management systems. She also disclosed plans to reposition PSIN as a policy think tank and global centre of excellence through strategic partnerships, including a proposed twinning arrangement with the Singapore Public Service Institute.

In his closing remarks, Hon. Bala praised the depth of reforms and strategic direction presented by the Administrator, assuring her of the Committee’s support through legislation, policy guidance, and advocacy. He reiterated that the Committee views oversight as a constructive partnership aimed at strengthening public service institutions in the national interest.

The visit concluded with the presentation of PSIN’s 2024 budget performance, as the Committee reaffirmed its commitment to reforms that promote professionalism, accountability, and efficiency in Nigeria’s public service.