President Bola Tinubu has directed a comprehensive personnel audit and skills gap analysis across all cadres of the federal civil service, signaling a bold move towards building a more agile, digital, and performance-driven public sector.
The directive was issued on Thursday at the International Civil Service Conference in Abuja, where the President emphasized the critical role of civil servants in the delivery of his administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“I have authorised the comprehensive personnel audit and skill gap analysis across the federal civil service to deepen capacity,” President Tinubu announced.
“I urge all responsible stakeholders to prioritise timely completion of this critical exercise so we can begin implementing targeted reforms.”
The President further instructed all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to uphold data sovereignty by capturing, protecting, and strategically publishing public sector data in compliance with the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023.
“We must let our data speak for us. Verified data assets must be published within Nigeria and shared to enable international benchmarking. This will preserve privacy, uphold sovereignty, and strengthen our global standing,” Tinubu said.
Driving Reform Through Innovation
Hailing the federal civil service as “the engine” of national development, Tinubu urged public institutions to embrace innovation, digitalisation, and a results-oriented approach in the face of a rapidly evolving global landscape.
“An innovative civil service ensures we meet today’s needs and overcome tomorrow’s challenges. This conference represents a bold step towards redefining governance in an era of transformation,” he added.
Reform Blueprint in Motion
In her welcome address, Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack, commended the President for his commitment to reform and transformation within the public sector. She credited Tinubu’s leadership for renewed morale and focus across service ranks.
Walson-Jack highlighted ongoing implementation of the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan (FCSSIP 25), focusing on digitalisation, performance management, and continuous learning as tools for enhancing accountability and service delivery across MDAs.
“We are determined to embed a culture of innovation, ethical leadership, and citizen-centred governance at the heart of public administration,” she said.
She also noted that insights from recent study tours to Singapore, the UK, and the United States have already begun shaping transformative strategies now being adopted in Nigeria.
The International Civil Service Conference marks a pivotal moment in President Tinubu’s reform agenda, as Nigeria looks to modernise its civil service to match international standards, boost efficiency, and drive sustainable national development.
