NIGERIA’S CIVIL SERVICE ENTERS BOLD NEW ERA OF INNOVATION AND TRANSFORMATION
Nigeria’s Head of Civil Service, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, has declared that the era of “business as usual” is over in the federal civil service, marking the beginning of a new chapter of innovation, transformation, and global-standard governance. She made this declaration at the maiden International Civil Service Conference held at Eagle Square, Abuja, on Wednesday, June 25, 2025. Walson-Jack described the gathering as “a movement of renewal, creativity, and progress,” emphasizing that the conference set a transformative tone for public sector excellence across the continent. She urged the civil service to “rejuvenate, innovate, and accelerate” in response to the demands of a fast-evolving 21st century. The Head of Civil Service highlighted critical reforms already in motion under her leadership, including the implementation of a paperless Enterprise Content Management System (ECMS), a Performance Management System that ties civil servants’ goals to national development priorities, and the restructuring of training institutions to focus on digital competencies and future-readiness. “These are not pilot ideas,” Walson-Jack affirmed. “These are active deliverables signaling the new spirit of transformation within our public service.” She stressed that change must become a culture, not a buzzword, and that Nigeria must embrace and meet global governance standards right at home. In his keynote address, governance expert Dr. Joe Abah warned that even the most visionary reforms will falter without firm political support. “If the politicians do not want the civil service to work, it won’t, no matter how visionary the leadership is,” he cautioned. However, he hailed Walson-Jack’s reform drive as “bold, courageous, and future-oriented.” The two-day international conference, hosted in partnership with the UK-based Global Government Forum, brought together delegates and speakers from countries including Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, and Singapore. Topics on the agenda included artificial intelligence in governance, climate-responsive administration, citizen-centered public service design, and agile leadership models. In her closing remarks, Walson-Jack turned to the younger generation of public servants, declaring, “You are not the future of the civil service, you are its present. Your creativity, energy, and courage will define whether we succeed or fail in this journey.” With this bold new era, Nigeria’s civil service demands excellence, integrity, and innovation.