President Bola Tinubu has ordered a civil service audit to enhance performance and professional delivery across all levels of the federal workforce.
The President gave the directive on Thursday while speaking at the maiden International Civil Service Conference in Abuja, signalling a major shake-up within the public sector.
“I have authorised the comprehensive personnel audit and skill gap analysis across the federal civil service to deepen capacity,” President Tinubu said.
“I urge all responsible stakeholders to prioritise timely completion of this critical exercise, so we can begin implementing targeted reforms and realise the full benefit of a more agile, competent and responsive civil service.”
He also instructed all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to uphold data integrity and national sovereignty, in line with the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023. Stressing the importance of strategic data usage, Tinubu declared:
“We must let our data speak for us. We must publish verified data assets within Nigeria and share them internationally in ways that are meaningful and credible.”
This, he said, would allow global benchmarking bodies to track Nigeria’s progress in real time, helping to strengthen the nation’s international standing.
President Tinubu praised the federal civil service as the “engine” of his Renewed Hope Agenda and the foundation of sustainable national development.
He said civil servants must become agile, forward-thinking, and results-driven, especially in a world increasingly shaped by digital innovation.
“This maiden conference is a bold step toward redefining governance in an era of rapid transformation. A forward-looking civil service ensures we meet today’s needs and overcome tomorrow’s challenges,” he stated.
In her welcome address, Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr Didi Walson-Jack, described Tinubu as the backbone of current transformation efforts in the Nigerian civil service.
She noted that the President’s presence and encouragement had renewed public servants’ morale and strengthened their national mandate.
She recalled insights from international study tours to Singapore, the UK and the US under her leadership, explaining that many of the lessons learned are already producing positive outcomes.
Walson-Jack reassured the President of her office’s commitment to implementing the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan 2021–2025 (FCSSIP 25).
She highlighted digitalisation, performance management, and continuous learning as critical pillars in improving transparency and efficiency across all MDAs.
“We are embedding a culture of innovation, ethical leadership, and citizen-centred governance at the heart of public administration,” she said.
The three-day conference, which attracted senior government officials and policy experts, is expected to lay the groundwork for wide-ranging reforms aimed at repositioning Nigeria’s civil service for the demands of the 21st century.
