According to a recent video on Symfoni TV, Former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has emphasized the crucial role of the civil service in national development, stating that “the civil servant holds the key to every nation’s success.” Speaking at a recent public event, Osinbajo reflected on his experiences across different government roles, including his time as Vice President and Acting President.
He pointed out that effective public service is the backbone of economic growth, governance, and national progress. According to him, “when public services are executed by well-trained, well-resourced, and motivated professionals, economies thrive, businesses grow, jobs are created, and lives improve. But where the public service is weak, where it is disorganized or self-serving, progress is scuttled, opportunities are lost, and the economy suffers.”
He addressed the consequences of a failing public service, particularly in sectors like housing and legal dispute resolution. Sharing his experience as Attorney General of Lagos, he described how slow court processes discouraged investment in rental properties. “Tenants would occupy homes without paying rent for years. Once they paid the one year or two years’ advance, thereafter, they would simply not pay anymore, while the cases dragged on in the courts. The result was that those who would have invested in low- to middle-level houses for rent instead invested in stocks, shares, and other things,” he explained.
To address this, Lagos State introduced Citizens Mediation Centers, which provided alternative dispute resolution and successfully concluded over 8,000 cases annually, compared to fewer than 2,000 in the Magistrate Courts. “Clearly, when public systems fail, everyone suffers. But when the public service sees itself as a resource to solve problems, the possibilities for transformational change are limitless,” Osinbajo stated.
He also underscored the importance of innovation in public service, citing the Central Bank of Nigeria’s response to outdated financial regulations. He recalled how young entrepreneurs struggled to build digital payment platforms because existing laws only recognized traditional banks. In response, “the Central Bank of Nigeria, however, responded creatively, establishing the Payment Service Provider License framework,” which led to Nigeria becoming Africa’s leading fintech hub.
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Osinbajo concluded by encouraging civil servants to see themselves as “public service scientists,” capable of engineering transformative solutions. “Real change begins with imagination, followed by disciplined execution of ideas,” he stated.
His remarks reinforced the need for a dynamic, innovative, and efficient civil service, capable of driving national progress and fostering economic development.
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