Tinubu Swears In Enitan as Head of Service, Charges Him to Restore Efficiency in Civil Service

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Thursday swore in Abel Olumuyiwa Enitan as the new Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HoCSF), tasking him with upholding professionalism, integrity, accountability and efficiency in Nigeria’s federal civil service.

Enitan, who becomes the nation’s chief administrative officer, succeeds Didi Esther Walson-Jack, who retired after attaining the mandatory retirement age of 60.

The brief swearing-in ceremony was held at the State House, Abuja, following Tinubu’s appointment of Enitan as Head of Service on August 19, 2026.

Enitan emerged as the most senior Permanent Secretary at the time of his appointment.

At the ceremony, President Tinubu congratulated the new Head of Service and urged him to bring professionalism and accountability to the administration of the federal civil service.

The President also charged Enitan to ensure greater efficiency in the service as the government continues to implement its reform agenda.

The immediate past Head of Service, Walson-Jack, attended the ceremony alongside her husband, Hon. Nimi Walson-Jack.

Also present were the wife of the new Head of Service, Mrs Olawunmi Ololade Enitan, and the Permanent Secretary, State House, Peter Fashedemi.

Born on December 12, 1966, Enitan is an indigene of Osun State.

He obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Banking and Finance from the University of Lagos and a Master’s degree in Public Policy Analysis from Nasarawa State University, Keffi.

Enitan began his career in the Federal Civil Service in 1998 as a Senior Operations Officer with the now-discontinued Family Economic Advancement Programme (FEAP).

He later served at the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs before moving to the Office of the Vice President at the State House.

At the State House, he served as Chief Administrative Officer and rose to the position of Director, a position he held between 2010 and 2018.

He was appointed Permanent Secretary in December 2018 and posted to the Federal Civil Service Commission.

Over the course of his career as a Permanent Secretary, Enitan served in several ministries, including Environment, Police Affairs, Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, and Education.

His appointment as Head of Service places him at the centre of the Federal Government’s efforts to strengthen the efficiency, professionalism and institutional capacity of Nigeria’s public service.

He is expected to provide administrative leadership across the federal civil service and drive the implementation of policies aimed at improving service delivery.