Civil service critical to national development – Dele Alake

The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, has emphasised the importance of a functional and efficient civil service to national development, declaring that no meaningful progress can be achieved without it.

Dr. Alake made the remark on Tuesday in Abuja while receiving the Heads of Civil Service from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), who were on a study tour of his ministry as part of activities marking the 2025 Civil Service Week.

Speaking at the event, the minister said his experience since assuming office in August 2023 has shown that the civil service is a vital machinery for policy implementation. He stressed that without a responsive civil service, even the best intentions and policies would fail.

“To succeed in governance, there must be a symbiotic relationship between political leadership and the civil service,” Alake stated. “No leader wants to fail, but success depends on the strength and efficiency of the system supporting them.”

Dr. Alake commended the implementation of the Performance Management System (PMS) in the ministry, describing it as a key reform under the Federal Civil Service Strategy. He also highlighted achievements under his leadership, including the establishment of security frameworks for the mining sector, policies to curb illegal mining, and increased foreign investment in the solid minerals industry.

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Engr. Faruk Yusuf Yabo, noted that the ministry is at the forefront of adopting the performance management system, one of the six pillars of the Federal Civil Service strategic plan. He said the ministry’s digital transformation efforts and leadership reforms are aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s economic target of achieving a $1 trillion GDP by 2030.

The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Service Welfare Office, Mrs. Patience Oyekunle, expressed appreciation to the ministry for sharing valuable insights beyond performance management, including updates on the solid minerals sector’s development.

The study tour included presentations on the ministry’s performance management system and was attended by state Heads of Civil Service from across the country, along with senior officials from the Ministry of Solid Minerals and the Ministry of Steel Development.