The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (CIPM) has stressed the urgent need to reposition human resources (HR) in government, describing it as the “nervous system of any effective organisation.”
Speaking at the sensitisation workshop held at the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF), Abuja, the head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Esther Walson-Jack, outlined that the reform, anchored on global best practices, would ensure that career progression into directorate-level roles requires professional certification in Human Resource Management.
Crucially, the OHCSF reaffirmed that CIPM is the only institution with statutory authority to certify HR professionals in Nigeria, in line with its enabling Act as this positions CIPM as the indispensable partner in delivering the professionalisation agenda.
President and chairman of CIPM, Mallam Ahmed Ladan Gobir, welcomed the reform, describing it as “a defining moment for Nigeria’s public sector.” He noted that, with CIPM’s decades-long commitment to advancing HR standards, the institute is fully prepared to guide the civil service through this transformation.
“CIPM is proud to play a pivotal role in shaping a new era of professionalism, competence, and accountability in the Federal Civil Service. This reform reinforces our mandate to develop ethical and world-class HR practitioners who drive sustainable people and organisational performance,” Gobir said.
The HR Initiative will introduce a national HR competency framework, accreditation by CIPM and international partners, curriculum review for Management Development Institutes, and a transition plan requiring officers in HR roles to commence certification within 12 months. By January 2026, preference in HR postings will go to certified or actively certifying professionals.
The reform is in line with the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan 2021–2025 (FCSSIP25) and will institutionalise HR as a specialised, professional function rather than a generalist administrative role.
CIPM is the only regulatory body for the practice of Human Resource Management in Nigeria. Established by Act of Parliament CAP I15 LFN 2004, the Institute is committed to promoting excellence and professionalism in people management through certification, capacity building, research, and advocacy.
