Why ISO 9001:2015 Certification is Important for the Public Sector: Government Ministries, Departments, and Agencies in Nigeria

A Quick Fix

Government ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) have often been characterized as corrupt, ineffective, or unproductive, and burdened with unjustified bureaucratic bottlenecks as a result of the general public's perceptions of the public sector.

One approach to quickly change this view is for more government MDAs, especially those located in the eyes of the storm, to demonstrate their commitment to excellence by choosing ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System (QMS) Certification. This is undoubtedly a game-changer for reversing the negative public perception of government MDAs or at least helping to modify it.

For the reason that, it is difficult to associate quality thinking systems in which continual quality improvement efforts are been championed with corruption and unproductive bureaucracy.

About ISO 9001: 2015 Quality Management System Certification

Designed to establish best practices and quality standards for products and services, ISO 9001: 2015 is a set of globally recognized sector certification. Regardless of their size or sector, it applies to all formal organizations, including government organizations, private enterprises both for-profit and nonprofit organizations.

Benefits of Implementing the ISO 9001:2015 Standards

Note the emphasis on implementation rather than certification here, because it is impossible to get certified without conforming to the requirements of the standards through implementation. There are several practical benefits of implementing the ISO 9001:2015 Standards requirements in any MDA in Nigeria.

1.    Meeting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with Ease

MDAs are responsible for implementation, monitoring and reporting on relevant SDGs, targets and indicators.

Think of the ISO Management Systems Standards as the means by which the SDGs, which serve as a plan, will be carried out. Because of how closely related the two are, the ISO organization has identified specific standards that can make a major contribution to each of the goals. There are several ISO standards that match to each of the SDGs, giving every MDA the chance to contribute to achieving the SDGs by 2030. The ISO 9001:2015 Standard aligns specifically with the following SDGs:

  • SDG 1. No poverty
  • SDG 5. Gender equality
  • SDG 9. Industry, innovation and infrastructure
  • SDG 12. Responsible consumption and production
  • SDG 14. Life below water
  • SDG 14. Partnerships for the goals
2.    Preparedness and Resilience to Crises Management

MDAs implementing QMS operate the structured approaches of the Standard, as a result they become more prepared to face crises due to the implementation of key QMS approaches:

  • Plan-Do-Check-Act Cycle (PDCA cycle)
  • Risk and opportunities identification and evaluation

For example, the government of Philippines mandated all its agencies to implement the ISO 9001:2015 QMS; many early implementers survived and thrived better during the COVID 19 pandemic.

3.    Enhancing Public Sector Productivity

The ISO 9001:2015 QMS requires MDAs of government to demonstrate continuous quality improvement of their products and services. The resultant impact of this include:

  • Optimization of valuable resources for efficiency and effectiveness
  • Reduction of wastages
  • Improved revenue generation and profitability
4.    Promote the Ease of doing Business Act

Providing enabling environment for businesses to thrive is the responsibility of the MDAs. The process approach and evidence based principles of QMS coupled with the need to provide support, set objectives and meet statutory, regulatory and stakeholders’ requirements, would facilitate the realization of the ease of doing Business Act by MDAs. Among the effects of these are:

  • Improved adherence to due process, which becomes second nature and not subject to the whims and caprices of persons in the system
  • Widespread upskilling, competency and human capital development
  • Enhanced documentations and records, especially deploying the use technology to support MDAs activities thereby promoting accountability and transparency
  • Availability and accessibility of the needed resources for businesses to exist and thrive, thereby increasing the enrollment of micro-small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) within and attracting foreign investors and business
  • Healthy competition among MDAs to meet set goals
  • Improved compliance to oversight requirements, such as civil service commission, committees of national or houses of assemblies, regulators, third parties, etc.
5.    The Seal of Commitment to Excellence

ISO, derived from the Greek word isos means equal. Every MDA that is certified to the prestigious ISO 9001:2015 QMS stands as equal, in every respect, to any organization internationally recognized for quality product and service delivery.

Tried and trusted globally, the mark of certification is a seal of commitment to excellence and sets a bar for leadership and management operations in the MDAs. It provides a basis for acknowledging that the MDAs are:

  • Subject to independent external quality conformity checks, which espouses trust and raises confidence of the public
  • Meeting its own standards as well as requirements of their clients and stakeholders
  • Planning and conducting internal assessments and reviews
  • Positioning quality of product and service delivery as a priority program
  • Operating designated office/personnel for quality management beyond just quality assurance and quality control.

No wonder, when you look closely at some of the MDAs in Nigeria that have distinguished themselves, behind, is the mark of commitment to excellence. Some of the MDAs, to mention a few, include:

  1. Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC)
  2. Federal Road Safety Corp (FRSC)
  3. Lagos State Assurance Company (LASACO)
  4. National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC)
  5. National Pension Commission (PENCOM)
  6. Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC)
  7. Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA)
  8. Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA)
  9. Nigerian Security Printing And Minting Plc
  10. Office Of The Head Of Civil Service (OHCS)
  11. Sugar Council of Nigeria
Why not Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON)?

In Nigeria, SON is ISO's national representative. Because ISO does not undertake certification, SON is accredited to grant a variety of ISO certifications, including ISO 9001:2015, to organizations seeking them in Nigeria.

Getting SON to do the certification of MDAs, not that it is compulsory to do so, but it provides a basis for patronizing our own in Nigeria, and by strengthening their exposure to better interpreting the ISO Standards for diverse sector usage by the MDAs. It thereby enables building knowledge base within. It also provides jobs opportunities and foster healthy circulation of internally generated revenue.

Over the years, Cademy Limited has successfully worked with SON through preparing  several organizations for ISO 9001:2015 certification.

References:
  1. Agencies with ISO 9001 Certification in Philippines https://www.gqmc.gov.ph/index.php/reports-references/agencies-with-iso-9001-certification?resetfilters=0&clearordering=0&clearfilters=0&limitstart3=10
  2. Corruption Perceptions Index-Nigeria https://www.transparency.org/en/countries/nigeria
  3. Reaping the benefits of ISO https://www.iso.org/files/live/sites/isoorg/files/store/en/PUB100369.pdf

Prepared by

Stephen S. Hati, PhD | CEO - Cademy Limited | President/CEO - Quality Improvement Institute of Nigeria -QIIN

+234 8057542206 | stevehati@qiin.org

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