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President Tinubu calls for competency, capacity
By Henry Uche
The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr Didi Esther Walson-Jack, has declared that the era of business as usual in the civil service is over. She made this declaration while underscoring the need to revitalise the spirit, structure, and skills of the civil service by attracting young talent, promoting inclusivity, and adopting performance-based practices.
The Head of the Civil Service made this known during the maiden International Civil Service Conference in Abuja as part of the 2025 Civil Service Week, which she spearheaded.
In a keynote address, she described the conference as a bold call to transition from rhetoric to tangible reforms. “The systems we inherited were designed for a bygone era. We now face 21st-century challenges—urbanisation, climate shocks, pandemics, and rising demands for inclusion. The era of ‘business as usual’ is over.” She emphasised that the conference was not merely a learning event but a “catalyst for real-world action.”
The conference served as a stocktaking moment for the ongoing Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan 2021–2025 (FCSSIP25). Experts from Africa, Europe, and Asia joined local reformers in roundtables, workshops, and strategy labs aimed at accelerating reform outcomes. Notably, the Federal Civil Service Strategy Implementation Plan (FCSSIP) 2017–2020 was introduced by the then Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Winifred Ekanem Oyo-Ita, with approval from the Federal Executive Council.
The plan was sustained by the immediate past Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr Folashade Yemi-Esan, and received a significant boost and remodelling under the current administration of Mrs Walson-Jack, to align with present-day realities. Key highlights of the conference included the rendition of the Federal Civil Service anthem and the launch of “Service Wise GPT”, an AI application that helps work and research processes in civil service operations. Currently, about 73% of Federal Civil Servants are using it, and it makes workflow much easier and more efficient.
An award of recognition was presented to surviving former Heads of the Civil Service of the Federation by the current Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Walson-Jack. The awardees were: Chief Abu Obe, Alhaji Yayale Ahmed, Engr Ebele Okeke, Ms Amal Pepple, Mr Steve Oronsaye, Prof Afolabi, Alhaji Isa Bello Sali, Alhaji Goni Aji, Mr Danladi Kifasi, Mrs Winifred Oyo-Ita, Dr Folashade Yemi-Esan.
“The 21st century presents immense opportunities for nations to leverage technological advancements in driving effectiveness and ease of managing intellectual and human resources.
“Nigeria has consistently sought to establish a technologically driven workforce equipped with the requisite expertise to align its service delivery with global best practices. The nation’s civil service has long recognised the urgent need to innovate, reposition its policies and regulations, and reinforce the capacities and capabilities of its workforce to ensure effective administration,” she affirmed.
Declaring the conference open, President Bola Tinubu reiterated the call for the nation’s civil service to serve as the cornerstone of quality service delivery and administrative transparency, as he emphasised the invaluable role civil servants play in delivering public goods and programmes.
President Tinubu stressed the importance of ensuring that competent individuals with the right skills occupy key positions to guarantee efficient public service delivery. “Civil servants, you are not just the backbone of effective administration across borders but the very essence of it. Your role as the quiet architects of stability, innovation, and public trust is invaluable,” he stressed.