The current mantra of the current government is reset, indicating that there is an overhaul, or drastic changes in most of the public institutions.
The touted reset agenda of the current government is arguably fast, sometimes messy, in some public institutions. For instance, the National Service Authority (NSA), the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), SSNIT (especially around its hotels), and other agencies are all rewriting rules, switching systems, and reopening portals.
The reset has been sold as a necessary action needed to be undertaken to put the country on the right trajectory. Many changes have been effected in many institutions. But it also raises plain, uncomfortable questions that citizens and watchdogs deserve answers.
Are these changes honest attempts to fix broken systems, or convenient openings to hand favours, contracts, and assets to insiders?
What’s Changing – Quick Snapshots
National Service Authority (NSA)
The old registration and payroll platform, known as the Central Service Management Platform (CSMP), was taken down for a technical/forensic review. Many previous registrations were declared void. A new and purportedly more tightly controlled digital portal was launched, which is touted as including stricter verification and an AI-backed registration system.
The stated goal of this reset is to stop ghost registrations and payroll fraud. The immediate result was that graduates were to re-register, deployments were delayed, and ministries faced uncertainty about placements.
“We are resetting national service. This is an all-new Authority,” the new Director-General of the Authority, Ruth Seddoh, confirmed in a press briefing, adding that “the time for talking is over. The era of action begins now.”
National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA)
NHIA has been trying to stabilise its electronic claims system, clear arrears, and strengthen revenue mobilisation. Providers have complained about late payments; the authority says it’s fixing e-claims glitches and improving payment pipelines.
The reset at the authority aims to also increase registration, aiming to register about 20 million onto the scheme. Moreover, the NHIA’s financial reset but implementation transparency and timeliness of reimbursements will be key for providers.
SSNIT and its hotels
After the process was abruptly halted under the previous government due to harsh public backlash, SSNIT has restarted a process to secure strategic investors or partnerships for several state-owned hotels.
Management insists the assets won’t be sold off recklessly; instead, they speak of strategic partnerships and careful vetting. But past attempts to restructure or privatise such assets have generated controversy and suspicions of sweetheart deals.
Other Public Sector Resets
Across the public sector, there are numerous attempts at procurement reform, improved service delivery, and digital upgrades. Some reforms are part of a wider government “reset” narrative tied to fiscal consolidation and public-sector efficiency.
Reset Justified?
Many will say there’s a practical case for action. The country’s public sector systems have been leaking public money, slowing payments, or mismanaging state hotels, among others. Such a situation undoubtedly needs fixing.
It is undeniable that the resets don’t happen in a vacuum. It creates opportunities for large procurement contracts, new digital platforms, and asset reorganisation, among others.
This also opens up questions such as Who benefits from the new systems, procurement processes, or investor calls?
Are procurement and tender processes open, competitive, and public, or controlled behind closed doors?
Who designs the new digital platforms, and who owns the code, data, or maintenance contracts?
No verdict – Only Questions
No doubt, fixing broken public institutions is urgent and necessary. But so is public trust. It is expected that the rapid changes must be matched by rapid transparency. Otherwise, goodwill turns brittle and every reform smells like a reshuffling of benefits.
As the government continues to court the support of the public for its reset agenda, what the public should ponder over is whether these resets are genuine attempts to restore integrity or carefully disguised reassignments to fix cronies, party faithfuls, or favourites.
For now, it is important to keep asking the tough questions and put the government on its toes to ensure openness, transparency, and accountability.
