Tinubu swears in Enitan as new Head of Service, charges him to restore service standards

• Enitan succeeds Walson-Jack after mandatory retirement

President Bola Tinubu on Thursday formally swore in Abel Olumuyiwa Enitan as the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HoCSF).

The ceremony, held at the State House, Abuja, marked the commencement of Enitan’s tenure as the nation’s chief administrative officer and came after the retirement of his predecessor, Mrs Didi Walson-Jack, who attained the mandatory retirement age of 60.

Tinubu had on August 19 appointed Enitan, the most senior Permanent Secretary in the Federal Civil Service, to succeed Walson-Jack.

At the swearing-in ceremony, the President congratulated the new Head of Service and charged him to uphold the highest standards of professionalism, integrity, accountability and efficiency in the administration of the federal bureaucracy.

His charge comes as the Federal Government continues efforts to reposition the civil service as a more efficient and responsive machinery for implementing government policies and delivering services to Nigerians.

Walson-Jack, who recently bowed out of office after attaining the mandatory retirement age, was present at the ceremony alongside her husband, Nimi Walson-Jack.

Also in attendance were Enitan’s wife, Mrs Olawunmi Ololade Enitan, and the Permanent Secretary, State House, Peter Fashedemi.

Enitan, who was born on December 12, 1966, is an indigene of Osun State and began his career in the Federal Civil Service in 1998 as a Senior Operations Officer with the now-defunct Family Economic Advancement Programme (FEAP).

He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Banking and Finance from the University of Lagos and a Master’s degree in Public Policy Analysis from Nasarawa State University, Keffi.

His career has taken him through several strategic government institutions and ministries.

He served at the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs before moving to the Office of the Vice President at the State House, where he worked as Chief Administrative Officer and rose to the rank of Director between 2010 and 2018.

In December 2018, Enitan was appointed Permanent Secretary and deployed to the Federal Civil Service Commission.

He subsequently served as Permanent Secretary in the Ministries of Environment, Police Affairs, Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, and Education.

His appointment as Head of Service now places him at the apex of the federal administrative structure, where he is expected to provide leadership for the civil service and drive the implementation of reforms aimed at improving efficiency, accountability and professionalism.

With his swearing-in, Enitan becomes the latest custodian of the federal bureaucracy at a time when the administration is placing renewed emphasis on institutional performance and a more effective public service.