To ensure square pegs are fixed in square holes, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, on Monday tasked State Heads of Service to keep merit and competence criteria above every other considerations in the appointments of Permanent Secretaries in their states.
Speaking while declaring open the study tour for State Heads of Service in Abuja, she harped on the importance of carrying out fair and level playing selection process in order to drive the reforms that will reposition Civil Services in Nigeria.
At the study tour, which is part of activities marking the 2025 Civil Service Week, the HCSF said failure to uphold merit and competence in appointment of Permanent Secretaries will lead to tearing down the whole house.
She praised the state civil services that are already doing the right thing, while urging other to do the same towards reforming their Civil services.
Mrs Walson-Jack said "Before I read my speech, I'd like to just make some comments, especially as regards the comments from the different heads of Service. I'd also like to note that the issue of permanent secretaries, appointment is also taken very seriously, because those are your foot soldiers.
"And if you do not appoint them on merit, then you are tearing down your own house. And so after I make these few remarks,
"I'd like to actually use the opportunity to call upon the Permanent Secretary of career management office who is responsible for carrying out the Permanent Secretary appointment exercise to in a few moments just give you an idea of the integrity of the process, because it's not just about the exams, but it is all about the integrity of the process that will give you the outcomes that you desire." she stated
Welcoming them to Abuja and commending them for their commitment to the collaboration and partnership, she noted that the engagement is yielding very good results since last year.
She however advised them against investing mainly in laptops, but more on table tops.
"From our experience, the laptops disappear very quickly. And so you keep on buying them, and they keep on disappearing. And that's because either the staff are taking them away on posting or on retirement, or just handing them over to their children in university.
"So what we are doing now is to buy more table tops and then leave the laptops for the very sensitive issues that some officers need to deal with." she said
She also tasked the state civil services to carry out skills gap analysis, noting that most of them and the federal Civil service do not have the right skills for a 21st century workforce.
According to her, from a research carried out, Nigeria, needs to infuse 39 skills into the Federal Civil Service.
"So you can imagine, so we need to do a skills gap analysis to identify the skills that are not there and match them with the skills that we need, so that that helps us in our recruitment." the HCSF stated
Speaking on the study tour to Singapore, she said "Many of you will recall our transformative study tour to Singapore earlier this year. That experience was nothing short of inspiring. It revealed what is possible when a disciplined, digitally driven, citizen-focused Civil Service is placed at the heart of national development.
"Today's study tour to key ministries and institutions in Abuja is a continuation of that journey, rooted in learning, collaboration, and innovation. And I assure you, it will not be our last.
"Our objectives here are clear:
To deepen our understanding of best practices in strategic planning. service delivery, and human capital management;
"To explore how digital tools and data-driven systems can reshape our operations for greater impact;
"To strengthen the bond between the Federal and State Civil Services -"One Service, Many Jurisdictions, One Vision".
"We are in the final stretch of the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan 2021-2025 (FCSSIP 25). Our chosen theme for this phase, 'Final Sprint: Delivering Results", is both a call to action and a commitment to outcomes.
"A sprint demands not just speed, but precision, stamina, and resolve. I urge each of you to fully align your state-level priorities, ensuring that reforms reach every desk, department, and district."
Mrs Walson-Jack went on "This is also the "Year of Accomplishment", a year not for promises, but for results. The Nigerian people are watching. Let them see evidence of our progress: in improved service delivery, agile processes, digitalisation, and a motivated workforce."
She pledged the support of the Federal civil service If they require policy direction, training, innovation support or technical collaboration from the centre.
"Know that my office stands ready. This is a shared mission. We succeed together or not at all." she stated
From the study tour, the HCSF urged them to capture actionable insights and return with implementable plans tailored to their States' agenda
"Lead your teams with clarity and courage, change travels fastest when leaders light the way; Monitor your progress with integrity, because data is the compass that guides reform." the HCSF said
On her part, the Permanent Secretary, Service Policies and Strategies Office, Dr Deborah Odoh, said the study tour has been designed in a way that they will get maximum benefits in order to replicate it in their states.
Among the stated that embarked on the study tour included Delta, Taraba, Adamawa, Bayelsa, Anambra, Abia, Gombe, Bauchi.
Others are Osun, Borno, Ebonyi, Rivers, Imo, Katsina, Kano, Plateau, Edo, Ondo, Kaduna, Zamfara, and Niger states.