The Director-General of the Mining Cadastre Office (MCO), Engr. Obadiah Simon Nkom, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to strengthening service delivery across mining sectors.

He urged civil servants to uphold SERVICOM’s principles of conviction, renewal, dedication, and commitment, stressing that personal integrity and excellence are vital for effective public service.

Engr Nkom, disclosed this in Abuja, at the 35th Ministerial SERVICOM Community Networking Meeting and Innovation Sensitization, organized by MCO in line with the federal civil service’s 1Gov Initiative.

He recalled that the programme was established in 2004 by former President Olusegun Obasanjo to address deep-seated challenges in the public service.

He explained that SERVICOM emerged after it was observed that Nigerian citizens, described as the primary customers of government, were not being properly treated.

Represented by the MCO Deputy Director, Mr. Okey Nwagbara, Nkom stressed that Nigerian citizens, as the primary customers of government, must be treated with dignity, respect and efficiency.

He said: “Having attended similar programmes organised by other MDAs, we are grateful for the opportunity to host this session today. We are not limited in terms of projects, and it is important that we continue to take advantage of such platforms.

“When we refer to customers in this context, we are talking about Nigerian citizens. They are our customers as public servants, and they deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.

“The core objective was clear: to address the problem of poor service delivery and ensure that every customer is treated fairly, honestly, effectively and transparently.”

He expressed appreciation for the opportunity to host the session, noting that similar programmes organised by other Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) have proven beneficial in enhancing collaboration.

He also challenged members of the SERVICOM community to evaluate their networking and collaboration across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), adding that, “Are we networking as effectively as we should? Do we reach out when challenges arise? Do we escalate issues to the national office when necessary?”

In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, Engr. Faruk Yusuf Yabo, represented by the Director of Reform Coordination and Service Improvement (RC&SI), Mr. Sanni Atta, described the meeting as a strategic platform for advancing the Federal Government’s Service Delivery Reform Agenda.

He commended the management of the MCO for hosting the 34th Ministerial SERVICOM Committee (MSC) Networking Meeting in line with the approved rotational hosting arrangement.

According to him, the quarterly networking meeting provides an opportunity to review progress, share experiences, identify gaps and strengthen the institutionalisation of SERVICOM principles across Departments and Agencies under the Ministries of Solid Minerals Development and Steel Development.

Atta noted that the RC&SI Department is statutorily mandated to drive service delivery reforms, promote compliance with Service Charter provisions and ensure continuous improvement in services rendered to Nigerians.

He disclosed that the meeting would feature a dedicated brainstorming and evaluation session to conduct a holistic review of activities recorded during the 2025 service year.

Also speaking, SERVICOM Team Lead, Mrs. Lucy Mlumuno Zach-Ukoh, disclosed that the meeting featured a comprehensive brainstorming and evaluation session reviewing performance in the 2025 service year.

She stressed that service delivery is primarily about orientation and commitment rather than sanctions.

She said: “We analysed what worked in the previous year and identified areas for improvement. Representatives from various agencies were guided on developing robust work plans for 2026, with clear service improvement targets to ensure measurable benefits for citizens.

“Service delivery is about orientation and commitment rather than punitive measures. SERVICOM is a social contract between government institutions and citizens.

“The Service Charter outlines the services agencies promise and the timelines for delivery, while a complaint mechanism ensures accountability. Our focus remains on reorienting civil servants to be efficient, committed, and transparent in serving their customers.”