Repositioning Nigerian civil service as 21st-century engine for national development

Repositioning Nigerian civil service as 21st-century engine for national development

By Okon Okon, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

The Federal Government recently initiated a comprehensive reform of the civil service.

The reform, anchored by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF), is a bold move to rejuvenate governance and reposition the civil service as a driving force for national development.

This new push came into the spotlight during the maiden International Conference on Public Service Reform held in Abuja.

The event attracted high-level participation from African public service leaders, seasoned reformers, global development partners, and international delegates.

With the theme “Rejuvenate, Innovate and Accelerate,” the conference served as a clarion call for African governments, especially Nigeria’s to redesign their civil service architecture in line with 21st-century realities.

President Bola Tinubu, who declared the event open, said the conference theme aligned with his administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda and underlined the need to reposition the civil service for global competitiveness.

He described civil servants as “quiet architects of stability, innovation and public trust.”

Tinubu said the civil service must remain the engine for delivering national transformation, stressing that a revitalised and efficient public sector was central to achieving national development goals.

“The Civil Service is not a supporting actor but the central platform for delivering the Renewed Hope Agenda,” he said.

The President commended the HCSF, Mrs Didi Walson-Jack, for her leadership and reform initiatives, especially the implementation of the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan (FCSSIP 2021-2025).

He acknowledged key achievements under her watch, including the digitalisation of work processes, capacity building programmes, and the unveiling of “Service-Wise GPT,” a homegrown AI tool aimed at improving policy execution and service delivery.

Tinubu also thanked international partners such as the United Nations and the Government of the United Arab Emirates for supporting leadership and digital literacy programmes, which had helped build the strategic capacity of senior civil servants.

On her part, Walson-Jack said civil service across Africa was at a critical crossroads, because of inherited systems which were no longer adequate for present-day realities.

“Our civil service must be renewed in spirit, skills, and structure; we must attract young talents, empower women and marginalised groups, and restore public trust through values-based service.

“The time for action is now; the climate is changing, resources are shrinking, and citizens are waiting.”

Walson-Jack said bureaucracy should not equate stagnation, adding that policy development, service delivery, and digital technology must be optimised to meet rising citizens’ expectations.

The HCSF emphasised the importance of collaboration among civil service leaders, reform champions, policy makers, the private sector, and international development partners in addressing the challenges.

She noted that the conference provided a platform to showcase successful models, such as Morocco’s integrated digital identity system and other global best practices in public sector reform.

According to Walson-Jack, the Nigerian civil service is undergoing rejuvenation to effectively tackle the challenges of the 21st century.

She highlighted reforms already underway, including the automation of government processes and the transition to a paperless service through an enterprise content management system.

The HCSF said that the implementation of a performance management system linking individual Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to national goals was a key milestone in service delivery improvement.

She also identified the ongoing capacity-building efforts through the Public Service Institute of Nigeria and the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria among the efforts the revamping the service scheme.

“The conference marked a critical turning point in the Federal Government’s ongoing reforms.

“It also came at a critical moment in the implementation of Nigeria’s Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan (FCSSIP 2021–2025).

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“By hosting this Conference, Nigeria reaffirms its leadership in shaping Africa’s accountable, innovative, and citizen-responsive public service ecosystem.’’

According to her, the Federal Government is building a service that is professional, digital, performance-driven, and responsive to the needs of Nigerians.

“The Nigerian civil service must evolve from being a rigid bureaucracy to becoming a dynamic engine of development,” she said.

Other stakeholders, in their contributions, called for a renewed commitment, innovation, and mindset shift if Nigeria wants to reposition its public service for national and global development.

Mr Lord Gus O’Donnell, former Head of the UK Civil Service, described the move by Nigerians public service as “extremely important” and commended Nigeria for convening such a gathering.

“When I was Cabinet Secretary in the UK, I started an annual conference called ‘Civil Service Live’, which has remained active for over 20 years.’’

He expressed admiration for the theme, “Rejuvenate, Innovate, Accelerate,” adding that the conference at the end, would provide an opportunity to foster unity and share best practices across public service institutions.

“Emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, climate change and global conflicts are redefining how governments operate.

“Public servants must adapt to these trends, acquire new skills and remain committed to serving the people,” he said.

Also speaking, Mr David DaCosta Jr., Deputy Governor of the Virgin Islands, urged participants to reflect on their passion for public service and challenge themselves to be better each day.

“What does rejuvenate, innovate, and accelerate mean to you? It means doing things differently, being innovative, and becoming a better version of yourself?’’

He challenged civil servants to embrace a new mindset, adopt technology, build others through learning and development, and create space for future generations.

“Ask yourself, am I the best version of myself today, do I show up for others?

“The answers to these questions determine your path to progress,” he added.

In her remarks, Amina Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, emphasised the critical role of public servants in delivering essential services and advancing sustainable development goals.

“Public institutions are among our most effective tools for inclusive and lasting progress; SDG 16, which focuses on peace, justice and strong institutions, is fundamental to achieving the 2030 Agenda.”

Mohammed called for strengthened institutions, ethical governance, gender parity, and the adoption of digital tools to improve service delivery.

“Artificial intelligence can enhance efficiency, but must be guided by transparency, data protection and human rights safeguards,” she said.

She acknowledged the efforts of UN teams across Africa in supporting institutional reforms and urged that the conference serve as a platform for practical solutions and bold partnerships.

Participants agreed that the civil service remains the backbone of governance, and unless it is reformed, national development will remain a mirage.

Observers say the Abuja conference was more than a gathering of policymakers; it was a call to action.

As Nigeria grapples with complex developmental challenges ranging from economic diversification to youth unemployment, the civil service is expected to serve not just as a support system, but as a catalyst for innovation, inclusion, and national rebirth. (NANFeatures).