By Reportcircle-Abuja
The Honourable Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has called for a radical shift in Nigeria’s public service, urging government officials to adopt a private-sector mindset rooted in accountability, efficiency, and legacy-building.
Speaking at the Sectoral Performance Review Retreat held at Zuma Rock Resort, Suleja, with the theme “From Plans to Results: Strengthening Institutional Performance”, Dr. Tunji-Ojo told senior government officials and agency heads that public office must never be seen as a privilege but as a profound national trust.
“There are only about 60 members of the Federal Executive Council in a country of over 230 million. That is not a title; it is a responsibility,” he declared.
The Minister likened governance to running a business, stressing that dedication, foresight, and ownership must drive government operations.
“Nobody runs their business to the ground. You plan for continuity, work extra hours, and build legacies. Nigeria is our business, and we must run it with the same energy,” he said.
Major Reform: Centralized Interior Management and Administration System (CIMAS)
Unveiling new reforms, Dr. Tunji-Ojo highlighted the Centralized Interior Management and Administration System (CIMAS) as a landmark innovation. The platform integrates all operations of the Ministry and its agencies, drastically cutting processing times.
“What used to take months like permits and quotas now takes just 72 hours. That’s the power of efficient systems,” he noted.
Addressing officers in uniform, he reminded them that their duty is both symbolic and consequential.
“The number of Nigerians in uniform is small, but the weight of their duty is massive. Wearing the nation’s colours is a badge of pride and an eternal responsibility,” he said.
The Minister urged participants to see the retreat not only as a review of past performance but as a recommitment to future excellence.
> “If we cannot hand over a better Nigeria to the next generation, then what are we doing? The era of complacency is over. Performance is now the standard,” he charged.
Earlier, Hajiya Hadiza Bala Usman, Special Adviser to the President on Policy Coordination and Head of the Central Results Delivery Coordination Unit (CRDCU), delivered a keynote address commending the Ministry’s reforms.
She praised improvements in passport and visa processing, data harmonization, and the introduction of a multipurpose national ID card.
“The Ministry of Interior has stood out as a model of institutional performance. Testimonials like ‘passports were issued in two days’ must become the norm, not the exception,” she stressed.
She also underscored the importance of continuous service optimization, especially in identity management and NIN verification, which directly affect millions of Nigerians.
On security, Hajiya Hadiza called for urgent legislative reforms, particularly an amendment to the Private Guard Companies Act, to allow private firms to handle non-core security roles such as VIP protection.
“This will free law enforcement agencies to focus on safeguarding national security their primary duty,” she explained.
