In a bold call for transformation, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, has urged Nigeria’s civil service to shift from outdated bureaucratic practices and fully embrace digital innovation for improved governance and service delivery.
Mrs. Walson-Jack made this call while declaring open the first-ever National Retreat of Heads of Service from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, held at Hillside Hotel in Katsina.
Addressing the participants, she emphasised that the retreat is critical in Nigeria’s development journey, where citizens expect greater efficiency, transparency, and accountability from public institutions. “We must move beyond traditional bureaucracy. Our civil service must become innovative, agile, and citizen-focused,” she said.
The retreat, “The Future of Nigerian Civil Service: Harnessing Federal-State Collaboration for Accelerated Development,” seeks to deepen cooperation between federal and state-level civil services to drive national progress.
Mrs Walson-Jack unveiled a suite of digital platforms developed by her office to promote transparency, information access, and continuous learning among civil servants.
She encouraged state governments to adopt these tools to boost digital literacy and streamline public service delivery.
Reflecting on a recent benchmarking tour to Singapore undertaken by 21 state Heads of Service, she stressed the value of global learning in reforming local systems.
“That visit reaffirmed the need to modernize. We must look outward to move forward,” she noted.
Looking ahead, she revealed plans to host Nigeria’s maiden International Civil Service Conference.
She described the forthcoming event as a platform to share Nigeria’s reform experience and learn from international best practices. She formally invited all state Heads of Service and urged their active participation.
Commending the leadership and commitment of state Heads of Service, Mrs Walson-Jack also expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his support of ongoing reforms. She thanked Governor Dikko Umar Radda for hosting the landmark event.
In his welcome remarks, Katsina State Head of Service, Falalu Bawale, assured delegates of a warm stay in the “Home of Hospitality,” underscoring the state’s readiness to support reform-oriented engagements.
The retreat is expected to generate practical recommendations for enhancing coordination, professionalism, and innovation within Nigeria’s civil service landscape.
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