By Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF), Didi Walson-Jack, has introduced Executive Master Classes as a follow-up to the Mandatory Training Programme (MTP), aimed at equipping senior officials with strategic governance skills tailored to Nigeria’s evolving public service needs.
She announced this during the opening of the 12th Batch of the MTP for Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) and Directors-General of government agencies at the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON), Topo, Badagry, on Tuesday, April 8.
According to a statement by Eno Olotu, Director of Information and Public Relations, Walson-Jack described the programme as a cornerstone of Pillar One (Capability Building and Talent Management) under the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan 2021–2025 (FCSSIP-25). She praised ASCON’s role in public sector capacity building.
Walson-Jack said the MTP offers vital onboarding for CEOs and DGs, especially those from diverse backgrounds, aligning with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which emphasises accountability, meritocracy, and innovation.
The Master Classes, she added, will be rolled out with the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation to sync with national priorities. Reflecting on her first 100 days, she cited achievements like launching Service Wise GPT, the Compendium of Circulars (1995–date), and new frameworks for mentorship, rewards, and consequence management.
She stressed reform urgency, directing ASCON to include a dedicated FCSSIP-25 session in future MTPs for better service delivery alignment.
“This training is not ceremonial—it is a strategic platform to build leadership competence, clarity, and confidence,” she said, urging participants to uphold ethics and drive transformation.
ASCON Director-General Cecilia Gayya, in her welcome remarks, thanked Walson-Jack for attending, noting it was the first time a serving HCSF had formally opened the MTP since its 2020 inception. The HCSF was joined by Permanent Secretary Fatima Sugra Mahmood (Career Management Office), Alfred Abah (SSA to the President on Civil Service Matters), and Elisha Benjamin (Director of Learning and Development).