The Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC), Prof. Tunji Olaopa, has called for a reinvention of the merit-based recruitment system in Nigeria’s civil service.
Speaking at the 43rd annual conference of the council of civil service commissions of the federation, held in Katsina from November 25–28, 2024, Prof. Olaopa emphasized the urgent need to restore competency-driven practices to reposition the civil service as a cornerstone of national development.
He highlighted the historical significance of the merit system, first established in 1855 by the British Northcote-Trevelyan Report, which he lamented the erosion of this principle in Nigeria’s public administration, attributing the decline to nepotism, patronage, and corruption.
“The civil service commission was conceived as an independent body to ensure that recruitment into public service is based solely on merit,” he stated. “Today, we must ask ourselves if we are still upholding this founding mandate or have regressed into the practices of favoritism that the merit system was designed to replace.”
Prof. Olaopa challenged civil service commissions across the federation to reflect on their role as gatekeepers of professionalism and integrity in public administration, noting that the original intent of the merit system was to ensure the recruitment of competent, well-trained individuals who could uphold the values of public service.
“In the Nigerian context, we must redefine what merit means in recruitment,” he said. “Are we fostering a system that prioritizes excellence, or are we complicit in practices that undermine the sacredness of our calling as public servants?”
While advocating for a return to meritocracy, the chairman also addressed the need to harmonize merit-based recruitment with the federal character policy, which seeks to ensure equitable representation across Nigeria’s diverse regions. He called for innovative strategies that would allow the civil service to maintain diversity without compromising competence.
“The challenge before us is to enforce the federal character policy in a way that is both inclusive and meritocratic,” he emphasized. “This requires deliberate policies and frameworks that balance equity with excellence.”
Prof. Olaopa outlined a roadmap for institutional reform, urging the adoption of technology to modernize recruitment processes and reduce corruption. He noted that the civil service must prepare for the future by embracing digital tools and practices to meet the demands of the evolving workforce.
“The rise of artificial intelligence and the post-pandemic digital transformation has reshaped the world of work,” he explained. “If we do not modernize, we risk falling behind in preparing the next generation of civil servants.”
He also called for strategies to address capacity deficits, retain top talent, and ensure competitive compensation for public servants, all of which are critical for sustaining a professional and motivated workforce.
The Katsina State governor, Mallam Umaru Radda, who was represented by the deputy, Alhaji Faruq Jobe, thanked the commission for choosing Katstina for the programme. He expressed his administration’s commitment to the welfare of workers, especially prompt payment of salary, gratuity, pension, training, and retraining of civil servants, among other things.
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