Successive Female Heads Of Civil Service Of The Federation & Their Transformation Of Nigeria's Civil Service For Global Competitiveness.

Mrs Winifred Oyo-Eta.& Mrs. Did Walson-Jack.

The 21st century presents immense opportunities for nations to leverage technological advancements in driving effectiveness and ease of managing intellectual and human resources. 

Nigeria has consistently sought to establish a technologically driven workforce equipped with the requisite expertise to align its service delivery with global best practices. The nation's civil service has long recognized the urgent need to innovate, reposition its policies and regulations, and reinforce the capacities and capabilities of its workforce to ensure effective administration.

President Bola Tinubu recently reiterated the call for the nation's civil service to serve as the cornerstone of quality service delivery and administrative transparency. 

The President emphasized the invaluable role civil servants play in delivering public goods and programmes.

President Tinubu made these remarks while declaring open the maiden International Civil Service Conference in Abuja as part of the 2025 Civil Service Week, organized by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation. 

The President stressed the importance of ensuring that competent individuals with the right skills occupy key positions to guarantee efficient public service delivery. "Civil servants, you are not just the backbone of effective administration across borders but the very essence of it. 

Your role as the quiet architects of stability, innovation, and public trust is invaluable." \

The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr. Didi Esther Walson-Jack spearheaded the historic conference, describing it as a bold call to transition from rhetoric to tangible reforms. In her keynote address, she stated: "The systems we inherited were designed for a bygone era. 

We now face 21st-century challenges—urbanization, climate shocks, pandemics, and rising demands for inclusion. The era of 'business as usual' is over." She underscored the need to revitalize the spirit, structure, and skills of the civil service by attracting young talent, promoting inclusivity, and adopting performance-based practices.

Walson-Jack emphasized that the conference was not merely a learning event but a "catalyst for real-world action." 

The conference served as a stocktaking moment for the ongoing Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan 2021–2025 (FCSSIP25). Experts from Africa, Europe, and Asia joined local reformers in roundtables, workshops, and strategy labs aimed at accelerating reform outcomes. Notably, the Federal Civil Service Strategy Implementation Plan (FCSSIP) 2017–2020 was introduced by the then Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Winifred Ekanem Oyo-Ita, with approval from the Federal Executive Council. 

The plan was sustained by the immediate past Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr. Folashade Yemi-Esan, and received a significant boost and remodelling under the current administration of Mrs. Walson-Jack,to align with present-day realities. Key highlights of the conference included the rendition of the Federal Civil Service anthem and the launch of  "Service Wise GPT" , an AI application that helps work & research  processes in civil service operations.

Currently, about 73% of Federal Civil Servants are using it & it makes work flow much easier & more efficient.

Furthermore, an Award of Recognition was presented to surviving former Heads of the Civil Service of the 

Federation, by the current Head of the Civil Service of the Federation,  Mrs Didi Walson-Jack

The awardees were:  Chief Abu Obe,   Alhaji Yayale  Ahmed, Engr Ebele Okeke, Ms Amal Pepple, Mr Steve Oronsaye, Prof Afolabi, Alhaji Isa Bello Sali, Alhaji Goni Aji, Mr Danladi Kifasi, Mrs Winifred Oyo-Ita, Dr Folashade Yemi-Esan.

This piece was written by, Victor Ita, a broadcast Journalis..