By Ebi Kesiena
Former President Goodluck Jonathan has urged Nigeria to make merit and integrity the guiding principles in the appointment of leaders, saying the country can only make meaningful progress when capable and credible individuals are entrusted with public offices.
Jonathan made the call in Abuja on Tuesday at the unveiling of two memoirs by the outgoing Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF), Mrs. Didi Esther Walson Jack, where he stressed the importance of placing competence, character and service above other considerations in selecting leaders.
The books, I Planted: A Memoir of Purposeful Service and Beyond the Mandate: A Memoir on Leadership, Legacy & Labour of Public Service, document Walson Jack’s 34-year journey in public service, from her National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) days in Rivers State in 1992 to the highest level of Nigeria’s federal civil service.
Jonathan said Nigeria’s development depended largely on the quality of people appointed to leadership positions, stressing that merit and integrity must remain central to such decisions if the country is to achieve sustainable progress.
The former President’s remarks came as Walson Jack formally unveiled the memoirs as part of activities marking the end of her tenure as Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.
Speaking at the event, Walson Jack said the books were not intended to glorify her achievements but to provide an honest account of her public service journey, including the challenges, mistakes and lessons that shaped her career.
She said the philosophy behind I Planted was anchored on building institutions, reforming systems and mentoring younger civil servants without seeking personal recognition.
“I Planted is about planting seeds in institutions, planting seeds in people and planting seeds in systems,” she said, stressing that public service should focus on creating lasting value beyond an individual’s tenure.
Walson Jack, however, clarified that the memoirs do not chronicle her tenure as Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, noting that the story of that chapter of her career would be told at another time.
She said the books were designed to preserve lessons from her decades in public service while providing younger civil servants with insights into leadership, institutional reform and purposeful service.
Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, who served as chief presenter of I Planted, described Walson Jack as one of the state’s finest contributions to the federal civil service.
Diri praised her resilience and commitment to institutional development, saying her career reflected dedication to public service and the strengthening of government institutions.
Representing Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, the Deputy Governor, Dr. Ngozi Nma Odu, commended Walson Jack for her contributions to labour relations and public sector welfare.
Odu particularly highlighted her introduction of structured quarterly engagements with organised labour, describing the initiative as a mechanism for sustained dialogue and early resolution of disputes.
She said the approach helped prevent disagreements between government and labour from escalating into destructive industrial conflicts.
Also speaking on behalf of women, the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, described Walson Jack as an exceptional public servant committed to excellence.
Dignitaries at the event included the wife of the late Nigerian leader, Mrs. Ajoke Mohammed, alongside senior government officials, political leaders, civil servants and other stakeholders.
The books were unveiled at the Ladi Kwali Hall of the Abuja Continental Hotel.
