*Declares Zero-Tolerance For Corruption In The Service
The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF), Mrs Didi Esther Walson-Jack, on Monday said the service has put in place a continuous process to stop civil servants from relocating abroad and still be on the Federal Government payroll.
She also disclosed that those who did that, popularly called 'Japa Civil Servants' before her tenure have either quickly returned back to their duty post in Nigeria or quickly resigned from the service.
In the wake of the ugly trend few months back, President Bola Tinubu had called for sanctions for the Japa civil servants and their supervisors that made it possible for them to continuously be on government payroll while staying abroad.
Answering questions from journalists during her First 100 Days Press Conference in Abuja, the HCSF said investigation is still on going on those who were alleged to have relocated abroad without disengaging from the service.
Mrs Walson-Jack also maintained that there is zero tolerance for corruption under her tenure.
At the occasion, she spoke on the milestones recorded so far under her tenure and steps taken towards repositioning the service.
She said "The first 100 days in office is a significant milestone. It offers an opportunity to reflect on the achievements recorded, perform a thorough audit of progress, and identify the goals ahead.
"It is also a time to pause and acknowledge the challenges we face, as well as reaffirm our shared resolve to overcome them.
"Today’s event is not just about celebrating milestones but also about fostering transparency, sharing our vision for the future, and ensuring that every Nigerian understands the importance of the reforms we are undertaking in the Federal Civil Service.
"This milestone is being commemorated under the theme “Marching to Greatness” which was inspired by the Federal Civil Service Anthem." she added
Mrs Walson-Jack noted that since assuming office on 14 August 2024, her commitment has been clear: to fast-track, accelerate and sustain the reforms outlined in the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan 2021–2025 (FCSSIP 25).
The strategy, she said, is the blueprint for transforming the Civil Service into a professional, efficient, and globally competitive institution.
"To this end, we set up and inaugurated seven “war rooms,” each dedicated to overseeing one of the six pillars of the FCSSIP reforms and the enablers.
"These war rooms ensure that no initiative is neglected, and that progress is both measurable and impactful."
To ensure cultural shift within the Civil Service, she said, she directed the publication and dissemination of the Federal Civil Service Anthem and the Culture Change Video.
"These initiatives are not merely symbolic; they stand for our collective aspiration to instill a renewed sense of purpose, integrity, and pride in the Service of our nation."
Stressing that collaboration has been at the heart of her tenure's efforts, she said there was meeting with the Senate and House Committee on Public Service Matters and an interactive session with the House of Representatives Committee on Public Service Matters.
"These engagements allowed me to present our reform agenda, solicit their feedback, and ensure legislative support for key initiatives.
"Additionally, I convened a service-wide meeting with Permanent Secretaries to align on priorities, share insights, and foster unity in purpose across all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs)."
The HCSF said that she met with the United Kingdom’s Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Civil Service, Rt. Hon. Simon Case, at the international level.
The engagement she disclosed, opened avenues for collaboration, including capacity building and the exchange of best practices that will strengthen the Federal Civil Service.
"This productive discussion was complemented by my meeting with the British High Commissioner, Dr. Richard Montgomery where we discussed the expansion of cooperation in Civil Service reforms aimed at enhancing productivity and governance in both nations.
"I also represented Nigeria in the United Nations General Assembly in New York, where I delivered a speech on Agenda Item 22 (Eradication of Poverty) and Item 24 (Agriculture, Food Security, and Nutrition).
"These opportunities have enabled us to showcase Nigeria’s commitment to global development goals and to learn from international best practices.
"In addition to this, I held a crucial Town Hall meeting with the joint unions representing civil servants. This dialogue was an opportunity to listen to their concerns, address key issues affecting the workforce, and foster a spirit of collaboration between management and labour.
"The partnership we are building with the unions is vital to ensuring that the needs and welfare of civil servants are prioritised as we implement reforms.
"In pursuit of internal alignment, I convened retreats with the top management staff of the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation and held a broader retreat with Permanent Secretaries across the service. These retreats were instrumental in fostering collaboration, clarifying priorities, and ensuring that our strategies are aligned with the President’s vision for governance."
According to her, she spearheaded an initiative to collaborate with State Heads of Service to foster a harmonised approach to improving service delivery at both Federal and State levels.
The HCSF said she has received courtesy visits and engaged with various key stakeholders towards boosting partnership.
"These interactions have strengthened collaboration and enhanced our capacity to deliver impactful reforms.
"We also launched the Performance Management System Day in Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to reinforce accountability and encourage a resultsoriented culture.
"This initiative ensures that every Civil Servant is motivated to perform optimally and that their contributions are recognised and rewarded.
"As part of our efforts to modernise the Civil Service, we launched the Nigeria Federal Civil Service Online Academy an e-learning platform designed to empower Civil Servants with the knowledge and skills needed for their roles. Alongside this, the Service Wise GPT—a digital repository of information about the Civil Service—has been developed to serve as a vital resource for both seasoned officers and new entrants.
"It is important to acknowledge that the Nigeria Federal Civil Service Online Academy was approved by my predecessor, Dr Folasade Yemi-Esan, CFR. Its implementation underlines our continuity in leadership and dedication to empowering Civil Servants with the knowledge and skills they need.
"To enhance communication and efficiency, we have launched GovMail, an official email platform for all Civil Servants. This initiative will streamline workflows and improve the overall effectiveness of our operations.
"We have also launched the Online Compendium of Circulars, a Service-wide circular portal designed to make Circulars easily accessible to every Civil Servant.
"These developments are in line with the commitments made on my assumption of office to ensure that technology drives the repositioning of the Civil Service for greater service delivery."
Mrs Walson-Jack went on "The adoption of the Enterprise Content Management (ECM) system is another transformative step. Several MDAs, including the Budget Office of the Federation, the Federal Ministry of Finance, the Federal Ministry of Transport, the Federal Ministry of Communication, Innovation and Digital Economy and the State House, have already gone live on the ECM, with training ongoing to ensure seamless integration across the service.
"I also inaugurated a committee to develop a Style Manual for the Federal Civil Service, ensuring uniformity and professionalism in documentation and communication.
"Furthermore, we institutionalised quarterly meetings with Civil Servants servicewide and held the first meeting titled “Public Service Live with the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation” on the 20th of November 2024.
"These interactions provide a platform for dialogue, feedback, and an opportunity to address their concerns directly. Initiatives In Progress" she stated
Several policies and guidelines, she said, have also been presented for stakeholder validation, including the Rewards and Recognition Policy and Guidelines, the Incentive and Consequence Management Policy and Guidelines, the Mentoring Framework, and the Protocol on the Use of Federal Government Secretariats.
"As part of the Rewards and Recognition Policy, we celebrated newly promoted directors on 22 November 2024. 22.
"A comprehensive on-boarding package for new employees is also being developed, which will include induction programmes, welcome packs, and guided tours.
"These efforts are designed to create a positive first impression and instill a sense of belonging in every new civil servant. Additionally, a book documenting the history of the Federal Civil Service is being commissioned to preserve its rich legacy and inspire future generations."
She disclosed that the service is also collaborating with the Nigerian Consumer Credit Corporation to establish a consumer credit system, which will improve access to affordable credit and enhance civil servants welfare.
"Finally, we are fostering creativity and innovation within the Civil Service through ongoing competitions, including an innovation contest and a Federal Civil Service logo design competition.
"These initiatives are designed to encourage civil servants to think outside the box and contribute solutions to the challenges we face.
"As I reflect on these achievements, I am mindful that our journey has only just begun. The work of transforming the Federal Civil Service is a continuous process, one that requires dedication, collaboration, and resilience.
"I am deeply committed to ensuring that the Civil Service I leave behind is better than the one I met, just as my predecessor did before me. To every civil servant, every stakeholder, and every Nigerian, I urge you to join us on this journey. Together, we can build a Civil Service that is innovative, efficient, and truly responsive to the needs of the people it serves." she added.
The HCSF also expressed gratitude to God Almighty for His grace, which sustained and guided the service to this point.
She thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for the confidence reposed in her by appointing her to serve as the HCSF.
Mrs Walson-Jack thanked her dedicated staff, the Body of Super Transformative Permanent Secretaries, and the entire Civil Service community, saying "your support, resilience, and dedication have been instrumental in driving the progress we have made."
At the occasion, a documentary on “Marching to Greatness” was played while there were public presentation of Service Welfare Newsletter
and Civil Service News Magazine.