February 24, 2026 — The Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Bagudu, has called on special advisers and technical assistants to provide more robust support to their principals to enhance the formulation and implementation of public policies.
Speaking on Monday in Abuja at a capacity-building workshop, Bagudu emphasized that no nation can achieve its development aspirations without strong institutional capacity. He noted that ministerial aides are central to this capacity, playing a critical role in shaping policy, strengthening institutions, and ensuring efficient public service delivery.
The workshop was organized by the Ministerial Aides Network (MANET) in partnership with the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS) to improve the professionalism and effectiveness of political appointees and technical experts across the federal government.
Senator Bagudu highlighted that many ministers and political appointees come from diverse backgrounds—such as professional expertise or political leadership—and rely heavily on the technical support of their aides to fulfill their mandates effectively.
“Our role remains to regularly evaluate the skills needed for national development,” Bagudu stated, urging aides to bridge knowledge gaps through continuous learning. He also advised them to use their privileged access to the policy-making process responsibly and to communicate complex issues in simple, accessible language for better decision-making.
Drawing on history, the Minister described advisory and technical roles as “global career launchpads,” citing examples of high-ranking judicial and policy leaders who began their careers in similar positions.
He encouraged the participants to uphold the highest standards of integrity and excellence, noting that their contributions are vital to building a more evidence-based decision-making ecosystem in Nigeria.
The MANET–KAS workshop is designed to promote best practices in democratic governance and improve the institutional effectiveness of the Federal Republic of Nigeria’s various ministries.
