FG Pushes AI-driven Reforms In Public Service

The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Didi Walson-Jack, said the federal government will advance Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven reforms to improve efficiency and service delivery in governance.

Walson-Jack, represented by Dr Gideon Adogbo, Consultant to the OHCSF, said this on Wednesday in Abuja during the opening of a three-day AI Literacy Training workshop for civil servants.

The workshop, themed: “AI Literacy Training for Civil Servants,” was organised by the OHCSF in collaboration with UNESCO, with funding support from the European Union.

She said the programme aligned with ongoing efforts to reposition the Federal Civil Service as a modern, technology-driven and globally competitive institution under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

“AI is reshaping how governments work, how policies are designed, how services are delivered, and how institutions respond to citizens’ needs,” she said.

She added that the civil service was advancing reforms focused on efficiency, transparency, digitalisation and improved service delivery under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

Walson-Jack said digital transformation remained a key strategy in the reform process, emphasising that it was a practical tool for improving government operations.

She said that an AI-driven tool known as Service-Wise GPT had been introduced to help civil servants access rules, circulars and official guidelines more efficiently.

She said the tool was not intended to replace human judgment but to support decision-making and improve accuracy in administrative processes.

Walson-Jack said that AI deployment in the civil service had improved coordination across ministries and strengthened institutional knowledge management systems.

However, she warned that AI must be adopted ethically and responsibly, noting risks such as bias, privacy breaches, misinformation and weak accountability if poorly managed.

Director overseeing the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Mrs Joy Baderin, said the training was timely as digital transformation had become essential for effective governance.

She said AI presented opportunities to improve efficiency, decision-making and responsiveness in the public service.

Baderin added that the train-the-trainers approach would ensure knowledge was shared across ministries and agencies for wider impact and sustainability.

UNESCO Abuja Education Sector Head, Mr Oladeji Adeyemi, said the initiative reflected strong collaboration between Nigeria and international partners in advancing governance through technology.

He said the training aligned with Nigeria’s National AI Strategy and Digital Economy Plan aimed at improving productivity, service delivery and talent development.

The workshop also focused on ethical AI use in line with UNESCO guidelines and Nigeria’s civil service competency framework.