From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
President Bola Tinubu has emphasised the indispensable role of civil servants in Nigeria’s ongoing transformation and the realisation of the Renewed Hope Agenda.
He stated this at the opening ceremony of the maiden International Civil Service Conference, held at Eagle Square, Abuja, yesterday. President Tinubu described the conference as “a historic gathering and a bold step towards redefining governance in an era of rapid transformation.”
Themed “Rejuvenate, Innovate & Accelerate”, the conference captures the collective ambition to reposition Nigeria’s civil service as a dynamic, digital, ethical, and globally competitive institution.
“Civil servants, you are not just the backbone of effective administration across borders, but the very essence of it.
Your role as the quiet architects of stability, innovation, and public trust is invaluable,” the president declared.
He acknowledged the civil service’s pivotal role in steering Nigeria through economic cycles, constitutional transitions, and social democratic consolidation. Highlighting the civil service as the central platform for delivering national transformation, President Tinubu stated, “Your role in this transformation is indispensable.”
He linked the vision directly to the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda, a comprehensive roadmap aimed at building a secure, inclusive, and prosperous Nigeria. He also expressed gratitude to international partners, including the United Nations and the Government of the United Arab Emirates, for their support in leadership and digital literacy initiatives.
“Your collaboration and guidance have been invaluable in building a world-class civil service that is efficient, accountable, and people-centred,” he said.
President Tinubu commended the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack, for her exemplary leadership, noting that under her stewardship, the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan 2021-2025 has achieved significant milestones, such as digitalising work processes, continuous learning initiatives, and launching Service-Wise GPT, a homegrown AI tool designed to enhance policy execution and efficiency.
He highlighted the landmark Memorandum of Understanding with the United Nations development programme, describing it as “a bold step that places innovation at the heart of public service reform,” and pledged that the Public Service Institute of Nigeria would be transformed into a global centre for public service excellence.
The president reassured civil servants of the administration’s commitment to their welfare, citing the new national minimum wage, salary adjustments, and the Pension Bond Scheme as social compacts recognising their sacrifices.
To ensure a high-performance culture, President Tinubu announced a comprehensive Personnel Audit and Skills Gap Analysis across the Federal Civil Service.
“I urge all responsible stakeholders to prioritise the timely completion of this critical exercise to realise the full benefits of a more agile, competent, and responsive Civil Service,” he stressed.
In a forward-looking directive, the president reiterated the critical role of data in governance. “Data is the new oil, but unlike oil, its value increases the more it is refined and responsibly shared,” he said.
He mandated all ministries and agencies to rigorously capture, safeguard, and share data in compliance with the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023, ensuring privacy and sovereignty.
“Let our data speak for us,” he urged, calling for verified datasets to be published domestically and internationally, to enable real-time benchmarking and elevate Nigeria’s global standing. President Tinubu concluded with a powerful call to action: “This conference must be more than a ceremonial gathering or a talk shop; it must catalyse real change.”
He charged public service leaders to “infuse our systems with energy and purpose, embrace innovation as a duty, and accelerate the implementation of policies and services that improve the lives of all Nigerians.”
Earlier, Walson-Jack, underscored the event as a defining moment for public service in Nigeria and globally. She stressed that the conference sets “a new tone, pace, and standard for public service in Nigeria, Africa, and the world.”
She praised President Tinubu’s “bold leadership and steadfast commitment to a reformed, digitally enabled, citizen-centred public service,” noting his conviction that “the civil service is not a backroom of government, but the backbone of national transformation.”
Walson-Jack paid tribute to former Heads of Nigeria’s Civil Service for their foundational contributions to reforms based on meritocracy, efficiency, and integrity. She also welcomed international delegates from countries, including Azerbaijan, Canada, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, the UK, and the USA, highlighting the conference’s truly international character.
The Head of Service outlined the conference’s theme as a call to action for a civil service that is rejuvenated in energy and purpose, Innovative in thinking and execution, and accelerated in action and results. She shared insights from learning missions to Singapore, the UK, and the UAE, emphasising that Nigeria’s civil service must lead Africa’s transformation.
Walson-Jack proudly announced that the conference is fully self-funded through partnerships and corporate support, a testament to the power of vision combined with discipline and collaboration.
She highlighted the recent signing of a landmark Memorandum of Understanding with the United Nations Development Programme, which would unlock investments in capacity-building, digital transformation, and institutional performance. The partnership aims to elevate the Public Service Institute of Nigeria into a global hub of excellence and fully digitalise the civil service in five Nigerian states.
An exciting feature of the conference was the Aspire Stage, where young civil servants presented innovative ideas and solutions, embodying the future of public service.
Walson-Jack also showcased Service-Wise GPT, an AI-powered assistant developed by her office. The tool enhances efficiency by providing quick, accurate answers about public service policies and procedures, reducing manual searches and improving decision-making.
Walson-Jack called on all public servants to bring their best ideas and open hearts to listen deeply, challenge respectfully, and collaborate intentionally. “Our mission is clear: to have an efficient, accountable, and transparent public service,” she declared.
