WELCOME ADDRESS BY THE DIRECTOR, PLANNING, RESEARCH AND STATISTICS, FEDERAL MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, AT THE MINISTERIAL RETREAT ON PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM HELD AT SANDRALIA HOTEL, JABI, ABUJA – 3RD JULY, 2025

Protocol:

The Honourable Minister,

The Honourable Minister of State,

The Permanent Secretary,

Directors and Heads of Departments and Units,

Esteemed Resource Persons,

Distinguished Colleagues,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is with great honour and a deep sense of responsibility that I welcome you all to this Ministerial Retreat on the Performance Management System (PMS), convened in accordance with the directive of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, as outlined in the circular of 11th March, 2025.

This retreat is a critical platform for consolidating our collective resolve to institutionalize a performance-driven culture across the Ministry. The PMS is not merely a procedural obligation, it is a transformational framework for aligning individual, departmental, and institutional output with Ministerial priorities and national development goals.

In the past year, the Ministry has recorded remarkable progress in embedding the PMS. Among the key milestones achieved are:

1. The successful cascading and signing of the 2024 Performance Contracts from the institutional to the individual level;
2. The development and tracking of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) directly tied to Ministerial Deliverables;
3. The conduct of quarterly performance reviews with timely reports submitted to the Central Delivery Coordination Unit (CDCU); and
4. The consistent observance of PMS Day, as mandated by the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, fostering accountability and continuous tracking of outcomes.

These efforts have created a strong foundation for the 2025 cycle. Accordingly, this retreat seeks to:

1. Review our 2024 performance to identify critical success factors and constraints;
2. Agree on performance expectations and KPIs for 2025;
3. Facilitate the signing of the 2025 Performance Contracts across all levels;
4. Develop actionable Individual Development Plans to address capacity gaps; and
5. Reaffirm our readiness for seamless monitoring and timely quarterly reporting, as required.

It is important to reiterate that non-compliance with PMS guidelines, as emphasized by the Head of Service will attract sanctions. We are firmly in the era of accountability and result-based management. The business-as-usual approach is no longer acceptable.

Permit me at this juncture to specially acknowledge and commend the Honourable Minister for his visionary leadership and unwavering drive in repositioning the Ministry as a key enabler of affordable and accessible housing across the nation. His bold reforms and strategic initiatives have continued to inspire impactful programmes in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr. President.

Equally, I wish to appreciate the Honourable Minister of State for his strong policy support and active engagement in the implementation of the Ministry’s mandates. His commitment to inclusive development and results-based governance has significantly bolstered the Ministry’s reform trajectory.

I must also sincerely commend the Permanent Secretary for his exemplary administrative leadership, dedication to performance management reforms, and consistent support in ensuring the timely delivery of Ministerial priorities.

Furthermore, I acknowledge the strategic guidance of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation and the Permanent Secretary, Career Management Office, for championing the implementation and oversight of the Performance Management System across the Federal Public Service.

Distinguished colleagues, the responsibility of sustaining and building on this momentum lies with each one of us. I urge you to approach this retreat with open minds, constructive engagement, and a shared commitment to innovation and service excellence.

Let us work together to ensure the 2025 PMS cycle is implemented not only efficiently but in a manner that sets new standards for performance in the public service.

I wish us all a productive and impactful retreat.

Thank you and God bless.