alder case study

The Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR) spearheaded the national public sector parastatal reform programme in Nigeria. Under this programme, the Minister of Foreign Affairs began efforts to restructure the Ministry as well as formulate new policies for the future.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs came to being in the year 1960 shortly after Nigeria attained Independence. 

The Ministry is charged with the statutory responsibilities of formulating, articulating and implementating Nigeria‘s Foreign Policy and External Relations.

Problems identified in the Ministry included:

Obscure organisational structure

Absence of international best practice standards

The need for initiatives to positively project Nigeria internationally

To kick-start the reform process, brainstorming sessions were held with the Minister and top officials to define the concept of the Ministry and implications on Global Policy, Africa, Nigerians and Foreign Direct Investment.

Strategic Framework developed for Nigeria's Foreign Policy

In attendance at the sessions were a number of dignitaries and government officials including the Minister of Information and National Orientation, the Minister of Education, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, the Canadian High Commissioner, representatives from the World Bank, and the Director General of the Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR).

The sessions examined the peculiarities of the Foreign Service as distinct from the Home Service and the Ministry's distinct challenges and requirements.

Following the dimensioning of the organisation, the administrative organogram of the Ministry was redesigned and a number of policy initiatives were developed.

All policy documents were submitted to the BPSR, the implementation agency in charge of the reform process.