By Comr. Mkosoga Daniel Iorhen
August 27, 2026
The issue of fake and unauthorised government agencies operating within Nigeria’s public sector is one that deserves serious national attention. Beyond the confusion they create, such structures can undermine accountability, duplicate the functions of legitimate institutions and raise serious concerns about the proper management of public resources.
In recent times, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Dr. George Akume, has drawn public attention to the existence of agencies and structures that are allegedly operating outside the proper framework of government.
The development has brought renewed focus to the need for greater transparency, accountability and order within the Nigerian public service.
It is important to understand how the machinery of government operates. Under Nigeria’s civilian administration, ministries, departments and agencies are not expected to function merely on the basis of the political appointments of the moment. The public service is largely sustained by career civil servants and administrators who provide continuity in the day to day operations of government institutions.
While political office holders, including the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, serve for a period determined by the administration that appoints them, career public servants often remain within the system across different governments. This institutional continuity is expected to preserve experience, stability and professionalism within the public service.
However, continuity must also be accompanied by accountability.
This is where the intervention of Senator George Akume becomes significant.
Since assuming office as Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Akume has demonstrated a willingness to draw attention to irregularities within the system, particularly issues relating to agencies and institutions whose legal status or operational legitimacy has come under question.
The campaign against unauthorised structures should not be seen as an attack on the public service. Rather, it should be understood as part of the broader responsibility of government to ensure that institutions operate within the law and according to clearly established mandates.
Nigeria’s public administration is already burdened by a large number of ministries, departments and agencies. Where institutions with questionable status are allowed to operate unchecked, the consequences may include duplication of responsibilities, waste of public resources, administrative confusion and weak accountability.
A government agency should exist for a clear purpose. Its establishment, mandate and operations should be backed by the appropriate legal and administrative framework. Public institutions must not become avenues through which individuals or groups create offices, structures or platforms without proper authorisation.
This is why efforts aimed at identifying and addressing such irregularities deserve public attention and support.
The task, however, goes beyond merely raising the alarm. The relevant authorities must ensure that every allegation is properly investigated and that appropriate action is taken where wrongdoing is established. Those responsible for creating or operating illegal structures must be identified, while systems that allowed such irregularities to flourish must also be examined.
The fight against fake or unauthorised agencies is ultimately a fight for a more efficient government.
Nigeria needs institutions that are properly structured, adequately supervised and genuinely committed to serving the public. The country cannot afford unnecessary duplication at a time when there is increasing demand for prudent management of public funds.
Senator Akume’s intervention also raises an important question about institutional responsibility. If certain irregular structures have existed for years, how were they allowed to operate? Who authorised their activities? Were public resources committed to them? And what mechanisms of oversight failed to detect them earlier?
These are questions that deserve honest answers.
The responsibility for sanitising the system cannot rest on one individual alone. The Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation can provide leadership and coordination, but ministries, departments, agencies and senior career officials must equally uphold the rules and procedures governing public administration.
A strong public service is not one that protects wrongdoing or remains silent in the face of irregularities. It is one that respects the law, protects public resources and places the interest of the nation above personal or institutional considerations.
The current effort should therefore be seen as an opportunity for a wider review of government structures in Nigeria. Such a review can help determine whether existing agencies are still relevant, whether their mandates overlap and whether the country is receiving value for the resources committed to their operations.
Senator George Akume may have brought renewed attention to the issue, but the responsibility of cleaning up the system must be collective.
There is no doubt that Nigeria needs courageous leadership within its institutions. Public officers must be prepared to ask difficult questions and demand accountability, regardless of whose interests may be affected.
The battle against unauthorised government agencies should not end with public pronouncements. It should lead to thorough investigations, institutional reforms and concrete measures that will prevent similar situations in the future.
If Nigeria is serious about reforming its public service, strengthening accountability and ensuring that government works efficiently for the people, then every illegal or questionable structure within the system must be properly examined.
The ongoing effort associated with the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation is, therefore, a development that deserves close public attention.
It is not simply about identifying fake agencies. It is about protecting the integrity of government institutions and ensuring that public administration operates according to law, due process and the genuine interest of the Nigerian people.
That is a fight worth pursuing.
