FG Reaffirms Institute As Nigeria’s Sole HR Regulatory Body

The federal government has reaffirmed the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (CIPM) as the only legally recognised regulatory body for Human Resource (HR) practice in the country, following the release of a new directive aimed at professionalising HR functions across the Federal Public Service.

The directive, contained in a circular issued by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF), mandates officers occupying HR positions in Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to obtain approved professional certifications.

The circular, referenced HCSF/3065/Vol.1/230 and dated May 14, 2026, was signed by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack.

According to the circular, the policy is part of ongoing reforms targeted at strengthening professionalism, ethical standards, competence and service delivery within the Federal Civil Service.

The government specifically recognised certifications issued by the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (CIPM), alongside a few globally recognised HR professional bodies, further reinforcing the Institute’s statutory role in regulating and advancing HR practice in Nigeria.

Under the new policy, officers deployed to HR functions within the Federal Public Service are required to possess approved HR certifications. A 12-month grace period has also been granted to affected officers to regularise their certification status, after which only certified professionals will be eligible for deployment into designated HR roles.

Reacting to the development, the President and Chairman of the Governing Council of CIPM, Mallam Ahmed Ladan Gobir, described the circular as a landmark step towards institutionalising professionalism in Nigeria’s public sector.

He said the directive aligns the nation’s civil service with global best practices in Human Resource Management while reinforcing the importance of professional competence and ethical compliance in workforce management.

Gobir stressed that CIPM remains the only institute legally empowered to regulate HR practice in Nigeria, noting that the Institute’s enabling law grants it authority to set standards, certify practitioners and enforce discipline within the profession.

“While the circular recognises certain international certifications, it is important to reiterate that within Nigeria, CIPM remains the only Institute with the legal mandate to regulate the practice of Human Resource Management,” he stated.

He urged HR practitioners, especially those in the public sector, to take advantage of the transition period to obtain the required certification and align with the Institute’s regulatory framework.

According to him, the policy will improve service delivery, promote merit-based administration and ensure that HR functions within the civil service are handled by qualified and ethically grounded professionals.

The professionalisation of HR practice, stakeholders say, is expected to support ongoing public sector reforms aimed at building a more efficient, accountable and results-driven civil service in Nigeria.