Bagudu Urges Ministerial Aides To Strengthen Public Policy Implementation

Bagudu Urges Ministerial Aides To Strengthen Public Policy Implementation

The Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, has urged ministerial aides to support their principals in strengthening public policy formulation and implementation.

The minister spoke on Monday in Abuja at the opening of a capacity-building workshop for Special Advisers and Technical Assistants to ministers, organised by the Ministerial Aides Network (MANET) in partnership with the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS).

In his opening remarks, Bagudu highlighted the vital role of Special Advisers and Technical Assistants in improving governance, national planning, and efficient public service delivery. He commended MANET and KAS for sustaining initiatives that enhance the skills, professionalism, and effectiveness of political appointees and technical aides across government.

“The Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning originated from the National Planning Commission, reflecting Nigeria’s constitutional federal system with federal, state, and local levels of government,” the minister said. “Our role remains to regularly evaluate the skills required for national development, recommend training and organisational reforms, and collaborate with development partners.”

He emphasised that no nation can achieve its development goals without strong institutional capacity, noting that advisers, consultants, and technical experts play a key role in shaping policy, strengthening institutions, and supporting ministers in fulfilling their mandates.

He observed that ministers and political appointees often come into office through different paths — political leadership, professional expertise, or public service — and may therefore require technical support to perform effectively.

He stressed the importance of organised technical assistance and continuous capacity development for ministerial aides.

Drawing from personal experience, Senator Bagudu urged participants to practise humility and lifelong learning, noting that professional growth begins with recognising knowledge gaps and seeking guidance.

He encouraged advisers to set clear personal and professional goals, responsibly use their privileged access to policy processes, and communicate complex policy issues in simple, accessible language to decision-makers and the public.

The minister also acknowledged the diverse motivations and career paths of public officials, noting that public service, academia, the private sector, and entrepreneurship all provide legitimate avenues to contribute to national development. He recognised challenges related to public sector remuneration and encouraged constructive dialogue and policy engagement to address them.

Highlighting the strategic importance of technical assistance roles, Senator Bagudu described such positions as global career launchpads, citing examples of senior policymakers and judicial leaders who began their careers in advisory and technical roles.

He urged participants to take full advantage of the workshop to strengthen Nigeria’s policy advisory ecosystem and enhance evidence-based decision-making across government.

Bagudu concluded by encouraging participants to utilise the training to improve their skills, contribute meaningfully to national development, and uphold the highest standards of professionalism, integrity, and excellence in public service.

The MANET–KAS workshop convenes Special Advisers and Technical Assistants to ministers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to enhance policy advisory skills, improve institutional effectiveness, and promote best practices in democratic governance.