The Executive Secretary of the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN), Dr. Abubakar Dabban Adamu, has called for increased and consistent funding to enhance the Council’s SERVICOM-driven service delivery efforts.
Dr. Adamu made the appeal in Abuja during an advocacy visit by officials of SERVICOM to the Council’s leadership. He noted that inadequate funding had stalled previous SERVICOM activities, stressing that improved financial support is crucial to achieving optimal service delivery.
“The meeting is timely. The SERVICOM meeting has not been held because of funding,” he said. “We are demanding adequate and constant funding to enable us do what we could not do before. SERVICOM is key to every sector, and for us to achieve 100% service delivery, we need to fund it for maximum output.”
The ARCN Executive Secretary reaffirmed the Council’s commitment to strengthening collaboration with SERVICOM to drive efficiency across Nigeria’s agricultural research system.
He acknowledged SERVICOM’s vital role in enhancing public service performance and pledged the Council’s openness to partnerships that will further its mandate. 
Dr. Adamu also took responsibility for the earlier postponement of the meeting, attributing it to the Council’s tight schedule and engagements outside the Federal Capital Territory. He expressed optimism that the discussions would yield meaningful outcomes.
Speaking at the meeting, the Director of Reform, Coordination, Service Improvement and Innovation at the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Udoh Effik, commended ARCN for hosting previous SERVICOM focal officers’ meetings, which he described as impactful.
Effik explained that government agencies report to different oversight bodies depending on their mandate — to the Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR) on reforms, to SERVICOM on service delivery, and to the Office of the Head of Service on innovation.
He stated that quarterly review meetings enable agencies to evaluate progress, share success stories, and tackle challenges collectively in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, especially the administration’s focus on food security. 
He noted that many agencies face manpower shortages and are increasingly relying on the SERVICOM structure to drive reforms and innovation, as creating new units may not be feasible.
Also speaking, Assistant Director and Team Leader from the SERVICOM Office in the Presidency, Mrs. Kikelomo Aina, commended the ARCN leadership for its support, describing Dr. Adamu as a SERVICOM champion. She emphasized the importance of excellent service delivery and highlighted ARCN’s central role, given the 16 research institutes under its supervision.
“We advocate for whatever will translate to excellent service delivery. ARCN is key because 16 research institutes are under the purview of the Council. Every customer should be crowned as king,” she said.
The meeting was coordinated by the Head of Public Relations, ARCN, Khadijat O. Ameen.
LV