Reform Leaders Tackle Gap Between Policy Design, Delivery

Public sector reform leaders have called for stronger stakeholder engagement, improved communication and better institutional support to ensure government policies translate into tangible benefits for the citizens.

The call was made yesterday in Lagos at the 2026 Public Sector Reform Convening organised by the Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation, with the theme, “Unblocking Reform: From Design to Delivery.”

The executive vice-chair of the foundation, Ofovwe Aig-Imoukhuede, said successful reforms required leaders to understand institutional realities, listen to those affected and build the support needed to implement change.

She warned against assuming that all resistance to reforms was unreasonable or could be addressed through communication alone.

“This is not to suggest that every objection to reform is unreasonable or that resistance can simply be overcome through better communication,” she said.
“Rather, effective reform leadership requires an understanding of institutional contexts, a willingness to listen to those affected and a deliberate effort to build the support necessary for implementation.”

The event brought together public sector leaders, alumni and other stakeholders to examine the challenges preventing government reforms from moving from policy design to implementation.

The Lagos State Head of Service, Olabode Shuaheeb Agoro, who delivered the keynote address, said reform implementation required leaders to address gaps in skills, resources and understanding within public institutions.

Agoro said issuing directives without equipping workers with the necessary capacity would not deliver sustainable results.

“A capacity gap cannot be resolved by repeating an instruction,” he said.

He stressed the need for leaders to communicate the purpose of reforms, align institutions with their objectives and provide the resources and capabilities required for implementation.

Agoro added that accountability must continue beyond the initial implementation of policies.

“People always feel better if they are carried along. Nobody wants to feel that they don’t matter. So it is always important to engage at all levels,” he said.

The programme also featured a panel discussion, titled “Advancing Reform: Building Buy-In and Coalitions,” and an interactive session with experienced reform leaders on communicating change and sustaining reforms.

Participants took part in a Reform Reality Check and a Reform Solutions Lab, where multidisciplinary groups developed practical approaches to stakeholder engagement, organisational support and collaboration.

The foundation said the convening built on its work with a growing network of public sector reform leaders across Africa.

It added that an analysis of projects undertaken by its alumni identified stakeholder engagement, communication, organisational culture and collaboration as major factors influencing the success of reforms.

The foundation said the initiative aimed to strengthen peer learning and cooperation among public sector leaders, ensuring that government reforms were not only well-designed but also effectively implemented to improve outcomes for citizens.