In a bid to enhance the Nigerian civil service, the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, has revealed plans to lead a delegation of 37 Heads of Service, including representatives from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), on a retreat to Singapore.
The retreat will focus on studying the operational frameworks of Singapore’s renowned civil service.
During a media briefing in Abuja, Walson-Jack explained that the retreat is part of broader efforts to reform Nigeria’s civil service. She also provided an overview of the key accomplishments during her first 100 days in office.
“The retreat will focus on studying the operational frameworks of Singapore’s civil service,” Walson-Jack said, highlighting that it is an important opportunity for Nigerian civil service leaders to learn from global best practices. She further mentioned that the retreat aligns with ongoing discussions with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to explore various ways of improving the civil service in Nigeria.
Walson-Jack elaborated on the collaborative efforts underway with the UNDP, which include negotiations for a potential Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
The MoU would facilitate the training of key personnel from the Public Service Institute of Nigeria (PSIN) at the Global Centre for Public Service Excellence in Singapore.
“We are in discussions with the UNDP’s Country Representative regarding a potential MoU for the training of key personnel from PSIN at the Global Centre for Public Service Excellence in Singapore,” she noted.
In addition to these engagements, Walson-Jack shared that during her time at the UN General Assembly in New York, she had the opportunity to meet with the Deputy Secretary-General of the UN, Amina Mohammed.
The meeting focused on collaborating on capacity building and digitalisation initiatives.
“These opportunities enabled the parties to highlight Nigeria’s commitment to global development goals and to learn from international best practices,” Walson-Jack said.
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Walson-Jack also described her interactions with key stakeholders, including the Senate and House Committees on Public Service Matters, in relation to her reform agenda. These discussions were aimed at soliciting feedback and ensuring legislative support for key initiatives.
Reflecting on her first 100 days in office, Walson-Jack stated, “Since assuming office on 14 August 2024, my commitment has been clear: to fast-track, accelerate and sustain the reforms outlined in the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan 2021–2025 (FCSSIP 25).”
She further explained that the FCSSIP 25 is the blueprint for transforming the Civil Service into a professional, efficient, and globally competitive institution.
“To this end, we set up and inaugurated seven ‘war rooms,’ each dedicated to overseeing one of the six pillars of the FCSSIP reforms and the enablers. These war rooms ensure that no initiative is neglected, and that progress is both measurable and impactful,” she added.
Lastly, Walson-Jack provided an update on ongoing efforts to address irregularities within the civil service. “The verification of civil servants still drawing salaries after relocating abroad is ongoing through IPPIS HR and IPPIS payroll to ensure that the anomaly is completely dealt with,” she said.
