Walson-Jack Hosts 2nd Citizen Engagement, Promises Digitally Driven Public Service

The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, has restated the Federal Government’s commitment to building an efficient, transparent, and citizen-centred Civil Service.

She made this known during the second edition of the Citizens and Stakeholders Engagement Forum in Abuja.

Walson-Jack emphasized that the Forum was not just another bureaucratic gathering, but a demonstration of the Service’s commitment to openness, accountability, and collaboration.

She noted that citizens’ feedback remains central to shaping a responsive and inclusive Civil Service.

According to her, the engagement coincides with the conclusion of the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan 2021–2025 (FCSSIP25), a reform agenda that has significantly strengthened capability building, digitalisation, innovation, and workplace excellence.

“Our focus now is on consolidating these gains and scaling up successful initiatives for sustainable improvement,” she said.

A major highlight of her address was the ongoing Personnel Audit and Skills Gap Analysis (PASGA), a comprehensive assessment designed to evaluate existing workforce capacities and address critical skills shortages across the Civil Service.

She thanked civil servants for their cooperation, noting that accurate data would lead to improved workforce planning, training, and career progression.

Walson-Jack also spotlighted significant progress in the implementation of the Performance Management System (PMS), which is reshaping how Ministries set targets, evaluate performance, and promote accountability.

“Structured feedback and measurable outcomes are already improving productivity across the Service,” she affirmed.

Speaking on digital transformation, the Head of Service reiterated that all Ministries and Extra-Ministerial Departments are expected to become fully paperless by 31st December 2025, following the deployment of the Enterprise Content Management System (ECMS).

She described the digitalisation drive as “a leap toward a modern, efficient, and transparent Civil Service where decision-making is quicker, processes are streamlined, and corruption is reduced.”

She further highlighted the impact of the 1Gov Cloud platform and the GovMail system, both of which have enhanced collaboration, ensured data security, and created seamless communication among over 92,000 public servants.

Walson-Jack acknowledged the critical role of capacity-building institutions, including ASCON, PSIN, and the Federal Training Centres, stating that they remain the backbone of professional development in the Nigerian Public Service.

Reflecting on the success of the 2025 International Civil Service Conference (ICSC), she announced that the 2026 edition will hold on May 20–21, 2026, urging stakeholders to mark their calendars with “a permanent marker.”

The Head of Service expressed deep appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for his visionary leadership, particularly in approving key policies such as the Rewards and Recognition System, Incentives and Consequence Management Framework, and Mentoring Policy and Guidelines, all aimed at empowering civil servants and driving innovation.

She also commended development partners, especially UNDP, as well as the Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation, Galaxy Backbone, NITDA, emPLE, First Media, and CIPM for their technical and strategic support toward public service reforms.

Walson-Jack urged civil servants to recommit to excellence, innovation, and professionalism.

She called on citizens and stakeholders to continue engaging with the Office of the Head of Service to strengthen transparency and improve service delivery.

“Together, we are building a Federal Civil Service that inspires trust, delivers public value, and meets the aspirations of all Nigerians,” she said.

Responding to question on the Services ongoing Housing at the Institute of Public Service in Kubwa in Bwari Area Council, Wilson – Jack gave clarification that the building was put on hold because the Department of Development Control observed with concern that part of the building was under high tension wire.

The event was attended by Permanent Secretaries, Directors, CEOs of Federal Agencies, civil servants, Nigeria Association of Women Journalists, FTC Chapter, development partners, and a vibrant online audience.

Remi Johnson, Edited By Grace Namiji