My first executive order will be on civil service reform - AP's Chris Imumolen

The Accord Party (AP) presidential candidate, Professor Christopher Imumolen, has said he would make comprehensive reform of the country's civil service his top priority if elected.

The flag bearer said the civil service has failed to live up to its constitutional role as the engine room of government as it wallows in indolence and corruption.

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Imumolen noted that reforming the structure would make it more suited to the demands of a new reformist government like the one he intends to lead.

“Any government wishing to fully deliver on its pre-election promises should not overlook the role the service could play as it is the oil that runs the engines of government.

“The civil service as presently constituted cannot fully fulfill its constitutional role of running government effectively because of age-old habits that need to be brought under control.

“A public service populated by workers who got there on the basis of a known man; a public service where indolence and official corruption are the order of the day cannot make any government successful.

"If I obtain the mandate of the people to become president, I will do everything in my power to ensure that this status quo does not continue.

"We will review the recruitment process in the service. We will end the era of filing records and institute an appropriate system to ensure transparency and accountability in the management of government affairs.

"We will fully digitize the entire civil service structure to make it more efficient and results-oriented.

"Staff would be required to undergo IT training and retraining to bring them up to the level we want them to be in the new fast and efficient service delivery regime.

“Since my tenure as President, business will no longer be business as usual. Patriotic and progressive people who have the general interest of Nigeria at heart will be allowed to work in the public service,” Imumolen pledged.