From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
The Federal Government yesterday celebrated ingenuity and creativity within the civil service by awarding N12 million to winners of the 5th Annual Federal Public Service Innovation Competition.
The top prize of N5 million was presented to the Carpooling Team, a group of five civil servants, who developed a digital carpooling platform to ease commuting costs for federal workers.
The competition also awarded N3 million to the first runner-up and N2 million to the second runner-up, with 10 other top performers receiving consolation prizes of N200,000 each.
Speaking at the award ceremony in Abuja, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF), Didi Walson-Jack, highlighted the competition’s critical role in advancing the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan 2021–2025 (FCSSIP 25).
She said: “Innovation is one of the six key pillars of FCSSIP 25. By institutionalizing this competition, we are strengthening a fundamental pillar essential for building a future-ready and globally competitive Civil Service.”
She further explained that the competition reflects a collective ambition to deliver “cheaper, smarter and more accessible public services to Nigerian citizens, while reducing the cost of governance.”
Walson-Jack praised the competition’s growth since its inception in 2020, noting that this year’s edition attracted over 155 verified entries from both core and non-core Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
“We successfully hosted virtual trainings on ideation and pitching, facilitated by renowned innovation consultant, Dr. Gideon Adogbo. A total of 228 individuals formed 66 dynamic teams, each bringing forth solutions that are not only original but also implementable,” she said.
She also acknowledged President Bola Tinubu’s unwavering support for civil service reforms, stating, “His dedication to reform, innovation, and service delivery continues to inspire and drive our efforts toward building a world-class public sector.”
The winning Carpooling Team, represented by Terrang Musa, described their project as transformative. He explained: “We developed a digital carpooling platform for civil servants that allows registered users to choose financial or non-financial options for shared transportation to and from work. For instance, if one team member owns a vehicle, the others can contribute to the cost and get picked up, like an Uber service. Alternatively, if all participants have vehicles, the app can assign driving days to reduce daily commuting expenses.” This initiative is meant to encourage civil servants to identify challenges within the service and propose innovative, practical solutions that enhance efficiency and service delivery.
Since its launch, the competition has led to the deployment of several in-house innovations, including the Computer-Based Test application for civil service exams and the Anonymous Reporting System for whistleblowing, demonstrating the government’s commitment to fostering a culture of innovation in public service.
Walson-Jack said: “By investing in innovation, we are not only improving the quality of public service but also ensuring that the Nigerian civil service remains competitive on the global stage.”