By Joel Ajayi
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reaffirmed his administration’s dedication to strengthening Nigeria’s civil service, commending ongoing reforms led by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF).
Speaking during the closing ceremony of the maiden International Civil Service Conference in Abuja, President Tinubu described the civil service as the core engine of his Renewed Hope Agenda, calling it critical to effective governance and national development.
He praised the reform efforts championed by the Head of Service, Dr. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, and hailed the conference as a “historic meeting of minds” designed to align Nigeria’s public sector with global standards of efficiency, innovation, and ethics.
“The civil service is not just the administrative backbone of government; it is the foundation on which policies succeed,” the President said. “Our public servants are vital to delivering essential services and sustaining our democracy.”
Tinubu lauded the implementation of the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan (FCSSIP 2021–2025), noting achievements in digital transformation, continuous learning, and the deployment of homegrown solutions like Service-Wise GPT, an AI-powered tool developed to boost administrative performance.
To boost morale and recognize workers’ dedication, President Tinubu announced a series of new welfare-focused measures. These include the new national minimum wage, consequential salary adjustments, and the Pension Bond Scheme, which he described as both economic interventions and moral imperatives.
“We will continue to reward those who dedicate themselves to the service of our nation,” he said. “Their sacrifices should translate into better living conditions and professional development.”
In a further effort to enhance performance, the President disclosed that his administration had approved a comprehensive personnel audit and skills gap analysis across the federal service. This, he said, is to ensure optimal placement of skills and foster a high-performance culture across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
President Tinubu also emphasized the strategic importance of data governance in shaping policy outcomes. He directed all MDAs to fully comply with the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023, reinforcing the need for secure, accurate, and accessible data as the foundation for evidence-based policymaking.
“Our commitment to data protection is not optional. It is the bedrock of a modern governance system,” he declared. “By anchoring our digital systems within local and allied data centers, we preserve sovereignty while expanding global visibility.”
He acknowledged the support of global partners such as the United Nations and the Government of the United Arab Emirates, whose collaboration in leadership development and digital literacy has strengthened Nigeria’s capacity to deliver on its reform agenda.
Calling for action beyond the conference hall, President Tinubu urged all stakeholders to carry the momentum into their institutions. “Let this gathering ignite a wave of innovation across our public service,” he charged. “Let it not end in resolutions alone but in visible transformation that uplifts the lives of our people.”
With that, the President officially closed the 2025 International Civil Service Conference, leaving participants with a renewed sense of purpose and a clear signal of the administration’s resolve to drive reform and improve the lives of Nigerian civil servants.
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