President Bola Tinubu has called for a radical transformation of Nigeria‘s civil service, declaring that only an innovative, tech-driven bureaucracy can propel national development in today‘s digital age.
The President made this declaration while inaugurating the 2025 International Civil Service Conference in Abuja on Thursday. The conference, with the theme „Rejuvenate, Innovate and Accelerate,“ was attended by heads of service from all tiers of government and international partners.
In his keynote address, President Tinubu described the conference as “a historic gathering and bold step towards defining governance in an era of rapid transformation.”
He emphasised the civil service‘s pivotal role, stating: “No matter how and where the political history of any nation stands, it will always proceed from one solid reservoir of knowledge to the other, and the civil service structure is there as the fountain of knowledge and a reservoir to bring the future together for a country such as ours.”
The president described the conference‘s theme as a collective ambition to reimagine and reposition the civil service.
He said that in a rapidly evolving world driven by technological advancement, innovation remains critical in ensuring that the civil service is a dynamic, digital, ethical, and globally competitive institution.
Praising civil servants as „The quiet architects of stability, innovation, and public trust. You are not just the backbone of effective administration across borders, but you are the essence of it all.
Today, we stand on a solid foundation that our predecessors built, and your leadership remains crucial in modernising and fortifying the civil service for generations yet unborn.“
The president elaborated on the importance of an effective public service that works for every Nigerian.
A re-fertilised civil service is not a supporting actor, but a central platform for delivering national transformation and renewed hope,“ he said.
He expressed gratitude to international partners and delegates for their ongoing support, stating, „Your collaboration and guidance have been invaluable in building a world-class civil service that is efficient, accountable, and people-centred.“
He also recognised the contributions of the United Nations and the governments of the United Arab Emirates and Britain, noting that their initiatives have strengthened skills and aspirations among senior officials.
Under the leadership of Didi Esther Walson-Jack, the federation‘s head of service, Tinubu pointed to significant strides in reform, including the digitalisation of work processes and the launch of innovative service programs. „Your achievement is marked by milestones,“ he stated.
While addressing welfare policies for public servants, he highlighted key measures such as the new national minimum wage and salary adjustments stemming from it.
These policy instruments reflect our recognition of the sacrifices made by our workforce,“ he said.
The president announced a comprehensive personnel audit and skill gap analysis across the federal civil service to further enhance institutional performance.
We must place the right people in the right roles,“ he said, urging stakeholders to prioritise the timely completion of this critical exercise.
The President also stressed the importance of accurate data: „Data is the new oil, but unlike new oil, its value increases the more it is refined and responsibly shared.“
He directed all ministries to rigorously capture and safeguard data under the Nigerian Data Protection Act 2023.
We must let our data speak for itself,“ he stated, insisting that verified data be published and globally recognised.
President Tinubu assured that this approach would foster evidence-based governance and enhance Nigeria’s global standing.
The president called on public service leaders, challenging them to return to their institutions with renewed determination.
Embrace innovation as a duty, and accelerate the implementation of policies and services that improve the lives of all Nigerians. The time to act is now,“ he said.
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