Secretary to the Government of the Federation George Akume told a gathering of permanent secretaries that the federal government is deliberately building an economy that creates opportunity, strengthens institutions, improves infrastructure, enhances social welfare and restores public confidence in governance, describing that as the essence of the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Speaking at the 2026 Permanent Secretaries’ Retreat in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State, Akume argued these aspirations cannot be achieved through budget appropriations alone, but require disciplined implementation, prudent financial management and a procurement system that delivers real value for money, insisting that government’s success is ultimately measured not by the quality of its policies but by the results those policies deliver to citizens. Roads must be completed, hospitals equipped, schools improved, water and sanitation reaching communities, security infrastructure strengthened, he said, and investments in agriculture, education, healthcare, technology and critical infrastructure must translate into better lives for Nigerians.
Addressing the permanent secretaries directly as accounting officers of their respective ministries, departments and agencies, Akume said their leadership shapes the quality of procurement planning, the timeliness of project execution, the integrity of contract administration and the effectiveness of financial oversight, a responsibility that extends well beyond administrative compliance into strategic thinking, ethical leadership and steadfast commitment to transparency, fairness and accountability, since every procurement decision should reinforce public trust and demonstrate responsible stewardship of public resources. He called the retreat’s theme, Strengthening Procurement Leadership and Accountability for Effective Budget Execution and National Development, both timely and compelling, arguing it speaks directly to ensuring public resources are managed with integrity, efficiency and measurable impact.
Akume said improving budget implementation remains a key federal priority, acknowledging real progress in strengthening budget preparation and aligning public expenditure with national priorities, but insisting the true measure of success lies in ensuring approved budgets are implemented efficiently and projects completed on schedule, within cost and to required quality standards. Experience has shown, he said, that delayed procurement planning, weak project preparation, fragmented institutional coordination and inadequate contract management can undermine even the most carefully prepared budgets, challenges that demand leadership, discipline and collaboration across the public service, since no single ministry, department or agency operates in isolation and today’s development agenda requires closer cooperation among institutions, whether on infrastructure projects needing multiple agencies working together, social investment programmes depending on cross sector partnership, or economic reforms that succeed only when institutions share common objectives and accountability.
As Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Akume said, he remains committed to strengthening inter ministerial coordination so government programmes are implemented coherently and efficiently, encouraging permanent secretaries to deepen collaboration, share information promptly, resolve institutional bottlenecks constructively and adopt a whole of government approach to policy implementation. He said the Bureau of Public Procurement continues advancing reforms promoting transparency, professionalism and efficiency in public procurement, including digital procurement processes, strengthened procurement planning, the Nigeria First Policy, the Debarment Policy, rules on variations of contract sums, mandatory use of final designs, and enhanced compliance monitoring and capacity development, reforms he said deserve full support from every ministry, department and agency, reiterating that the federal government has approved implementation of these policies and that appropriate sanctions will apply to erring officers.
