By Ebi Kesiena
Nigeria’s Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF), Mrs. Didi Walson-Jack, has urged newly appointed Permanent Secretaries to demonstrate purposeful leadership and fast-track ongoing reforms within the Federal Civil Service.
Speaking at the opening of a Two-day Induction Programme held in Abuja, the HCSF noted that the appointees are assuming duty at a defining period for the nation. She emphasised that they carry a strategic responsibility to guide the machinery of government toward achieving national development goals as contained in a statement signed by Eno Olotu, Director of Press and Public Relations.
Mrs. Walson-Jack congratulated the five newly appointed Permanent Secretaries, describing their selection as a recognition of merit, capacity, and years of distinguished service. She noted that they will be overseeing critical service-wide offices central to governance coordination.
Underscoring the urgency of achieving a fully paperless Federal Civil Service, the HCSF reiterated that digitalisation remains the foundation for transparency and modern governance. She therefore encouraged the new leaders to champion this transition with commitment and by example.
She also reminded them of their roles as custodians of institutional memory, system stabilisers, catalysts of reform, and guardians of ethical public service values. She urged them to uphold the highest standards of integrity and deliver results that improve citizens’ lives.
Earlier, former Permanent Secretary, Career Management Office, Mrs. Fatima Mahmood, welcomed the appointees and expressed confidence that their leadership would accelerate digitalisation and entrench sustainable reforms across the Service.
She described the induction as a defining moment in their public service journey and the beginning of a critical phase requiring clarity, discipline, courage, and an unwavering dedication to the ideals of the Federal Civil Service.
The programme featured extensive sessions with policy experts and seasoned administrators, who equipped the appointees with strategic insights and practical tools to excel as leaders of policy formulation and drivers of national reform initiatives.
