Osinbajo singles out civil servants for blame over Nigeria’s underdevelopment

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has blamed civil servants in Nigeria for the country’s underdevelopment since independence.

According to the VP, the absence of a “highly capable and professional bureaucracy which is essential for national development,” is the reason the country has continued to struggle in its growth.

Osinbajo spoke delivering a lecture titled ‘Strategic Leadership – The Essential Skills’, and delivered at the Leadership Enhancement and Development Programme (LEAD-P), on Thursday, organised by the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation in Abuja.

He said, “Very often, we hear people say that Nigeria’s problem is not plans and policies, but rather that of a lack of implementation.

“The subtext of such comments is rather simple: the bureaucracy is the key; if it works, everything works; if it fails, plans and policies are hardly worth the paper they are written on; the bureaucracy literarily holds the future of the nation in its hands.”

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“Great economies and great nations, prosperity and abundance of nations and communities are created by men and not spirits.”

He called on civil servants in the country to facilitate the operations of the private sector and non-governmental organisations by providing an enabling environment.

Osinbajo said, “A highly capable and professional bureaucracy is essential for successful development.

“Given the roles and responsibilities of the civil service, namely, to design and implement policy, regulate economic activity, and provide public goods, including infrastructure and social services.

“The role of government agencies as licensors, regulators, and revenue generators only makes sense when operators understand that the bigger picture is to provide the most auspicious environment for the private and non-government sectors to operate.

“Countries like Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, Brazil, China and India have well-developed and professional civil service.

“Everything that happens in the public service has an impact on the lives, livelihoods and the future of our country.”