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By Tracy Moses
President Bola Tinubu has ordered a thorough audit of personnel and a skills gap assessment across the Federal Civil Service to bolster institutional capacity and drive efficiency.
Speaking on Thursday at the inaugural International Civil Service Conference in Abuja, President Tinubu urged stakeholders to ensure the prompt and diligent execution of this strategic exercise, which aims to usher in targeted reforms and promote a more responsive, skilled, and forward-thinking Civil Service.
He further instructed all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to maintain accurate records, safeguard data under the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023, and release relevant information swiftly to maximize public value, all while adhering to the highest standards of data privacy and protection.
Underscoring the pivotal role of data in governance, Tinubu remarked:
“Reliable, secure, and nationally owned data is the backbone of all our reform efforts. Data is the new oil, its value grows with refinement and responsible distribution.
“We must allow our data to speak for us, publish verified data within Nigeria and make it available in globally recognized repositories.
“This enhances our ability to be tracked by international benchmarking bodies in real-time, strengthening Nigeria’s standing globally.
“Hosting such data in domestic or allied data centers ensures both privacy and data sovereignty. On this bedrock of credible and accessible information, we will anchor evidence-based governance, climb global indices, and build a proactive Civil Service that anticipates the needs of every Nigerian.”
Applauding the conference’s theme, “Rejuvenate, Innovate & Accelerate,” Tinubu called it “timely, appropriate, and inspiring,” reflecting the national vision of reimagining the Civil Service to meet evolving demands.
“In today’s fast-paced technological landscape,” he said, “innovation is key to ensuring that the Civil Service remains dynamic, ethical, digitized, and globally competitive. An innovative Civil Service not only meets present needs but is also primed to tackle future challenges.”
Tinubu praised civil servants as “the silent architects of national stability and progress,” acknowledging their role in steering the nation through political and economic transitions.
“You are not just the machinery behind effective administration—you are its soul,” he told attendees. “Through you, public goods are delivered, democratic governance is stabilized, and continuity is maintained. We now build on the firm foundation laid by those before us.”
The President reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to worker welfare, highlighting recent milestones, including the implementation of a new national minimum wage, adjustments in line with that wage, and the approval of the Pension Bond Scheme.
He also lauded the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Walson-Jack, for her leadership and reform efforts, particularly her role in executing the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan 2021–2025.
“She has driven key achievements such as digital transformation, continuous learning platforms, and the introduction of Service-Wise GPT, our indigenous AI system designed to streamline policy execution and improve service delivery,” he said.
In her welcome remarks, Walson-Jack thanked President Tinubu for his unwavering support for public sector transformation, noting that recent learning visits to Singapore, the UK, and the UAE offered critical insights into modernizing governance.
“To lead Africa, Nigeria’s Civil Service must be at the forefront,” she said. “This conference is a call to action.”
Introducing Service-Wise GPT, Walson-Jack described the AI-powered assistant as a transformative innovation that simplifies access to information about civil service rules, procedures, policies, and circulars.
“This tool cuts down manual search time, boosts decision-making, and enhances operational efficiency,” she said. “Its robust algorithms and extensive database make it an essential asset for both civil servants and the general public.”
She urged public officers to commit wholeheartedly to reform, “bringing their best ideas and dedication to serve like never before.”
The two-day event attracted delegates from several countries, including Azerbaijan, Canada, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, the UK, and the US, as well as top officials from civil services across Nigeria.