Civil service must remain agile, results-driven -Tinubu

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has said that the civil service is the ‘engine’ driving the Renewed Hope Agenda and the vehicle for delivering sustainable national development.

He said their roles remain indispensable in modern governance and that in the face of a fast-evolving digital and economic landscape, the civil service must remain agile, future-ready, and results-driven.

He spoke on Thursday in Abuja at the closing ceremony of the maiden International Civil Service Conference, organised by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHoCSF) in collaboration with the Global Government Forum UK and other partners.

SPONSOR AD

The conference brought together civil service leaders, reform champions, policymakers, and development partners with over 5,000 delegates from across Africa, Europe, Asia, and beyond in attendance.

President Tinubu said that Nigerian civil servants as the quiet architects of stability, innovation, and public trust, and reaffirmed his administration’s unwavering commitment to public service reform.

According to him, the civil servants are not just the backbone of an effective administration across borders but are the essence of governance, as their roles remain indispensable in modern governance.

“In the face of a fast-evolving digital and economic landscape, the civil service must remain agile, future-ready, and results-driven.

“This maiden conference is a bold step toward redefining governance in an era of rapid transformation. An innovative Civil Service ensures we meet today’s needs and overcome tomorrow’s challenges.

“Your role in this transformation is not a supporting act — it is central to the delivery of our Renewed Hope Agenda,” President Tinubu said.

While commending the ongoing reforms spearheaded by the OHoCSF, President Tinubu highlighted several key strides, including the digitalisation of government processes, human capital development initiatives, and the launch of Nigeria’s homegrown AI tool, Service-Wise GPT.

He also commended the successful signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to transform the Public Service Institute of Nigeria (PSIN) into a global centre of excellence.

He said that such strategic collaborations are essential to building a civil service that is not only globally competitive but also responsive to the needs of Nigerians.

While noting his show of concrete support for workers’ welfare, the President cited the approval of a new minimum wage, salary adjustments, and the implementation of the Pension Bond Scheme as social compacts that underscore his government’s appreciation of the sacrifices of public servants.

He directed all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to prioritise data integrity and sovereignty, calling for the capture, protection and strategic publication of public sector data in line with the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023.

“Our civil service must embrace innovation not as an option, but as an obligation. Evidence-based governance begins with accurate data and ends with measurable results. The time to act is now,” he said.

Speaking earlier, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF),

Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for his unwavering support and recognition of the centrality of the civil service in national transformation.

She said that his presence and strong words of affirmation at the conference have renewed the morale and mandate of public servants across the country. She also assured the President that her office, in collaboration with reform-minded stakeholders, will not relent in accelerating the implementation of the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan (FCSSIP 25).

She said that the civil service is not only ready to power the Renewed Hope Agenda but is determined to exceed expectations by embedding a culture of innovation, ethical leadership, and citizen-centred governance in the heart of public administration.

“Digitalisation, performance management, and continuous learning remain key pillars in strengthening accountability, transparency, and service delivery across MDAs,” Walson-Jack said.