Federal Government Begins Personnel Audit, Skills Gap Analysis In Civil Service

The Federal Government, through the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF), has commenced the 2025 Personnel Audit and Skills Gap Analysis, marking a significant step in its plan to modernise the Nigerian civil service and align it with national development goals.

Dubbed the PASGA Project (Personnel Audit and Skills Gap Analysis), the initiative aims to create a definitive database of all government employees.

The data will be used to guide critical decisions on recruitment, training, and career advancement, while also identifying critical shortages in areas like ICT, data analysis, project management, and public finance.

The project is being spearheaded by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.

The head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr. Didi Walson-Jack, at a sensitisation event on Thursday, declared the audit a “major milestone” in the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan 2021-2025.

She framed it as a decisive break from the past, addressing years of “fragmented and outdated personnel records” that have led to inefficiencies.

“Through PASGA, we are setting a new standard, one that is transparent, data-based, and performance-oriented.

“This reform will deliver accurate personnel records, identify existing skills gaps, and support targeted training and redeployment aligned with the evolving needs of government,” she said.

She emphasised that the exercise was more than just a headcount, calling it a reform tool that will shape the future of Nigeria’s workforce.

Walson-Jack made a direct appeal for cooperation from all levels of the service, urging Permanent Secretaries, Directors, union leaders, and staff to demonstrate ownership of the process.

“This exercise is a bold statement of our readiness to build a civil service that is data-driven, merit-based, and future-ready.

“Together, we can make the Nigerian civil service a model of efficiency, accountability, and innovation in public administration,” she said.

The Head of Service also commended the Project Implementation Committee, chaired by the Permanent Secretary for the Common Services Office, Dr Danjuma Kalba, for their preparatory work.

She charged the project’s consultant, Knewrow Consulting, to execute the assignment with professionalism and precision.

According to her, the successful implementation of the PASGA Project is seen as critical to achieving a more agile and capable civil service that can effectively deliver on the government’s policies and serve the Nigerian public.

Officials anticipated that the project will yield significant benefits, including reduced financial leakages, the elimination of redundant roles, and more strategic deployment of personnel across various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).

The digitalisation of records through the Human Resource Management Information System is expected to be a key enabler of the new efficiency.