The Head of Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF), Mrs Didi Esther Walson-Jack. has inaugurated the steering and project implementation committees for the service-wide personnel audit and skills gap analysis.
The exercise, approved to align with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, seeks to build a modern, efficient and fit-for-purpose civil service by determining the true size, structure and skills composition of the workforce, while identifying the competencies required for future service excellence.
In her keynote address at the inauguration, the Head of Service said, “the machinery of governance can only function effectively when powered by the right calibre of human capital, strategically deployed and continuously developed.”
She said the audit would establish a verified, digital personnel database linked to National Identification Numbers (NIN) and Bank Verification Numbers (BVN), thereby eliminating ghost workers, rectifying inconsistencies in staff records, and producing an accurate workforce profile.
She said the initiative would also identify current and future skills gaps in critical areas such as ICT, project management, public finance, and data analysis.
Additionally, it will aid the “review and strengthening of training programmes to ensure targeted capacity development; Enhance Human Resource Management systems through digitalization using the Human Resource Management Information System (HRMIS); and Achieve efficiency gains and cost savings by closing financial leakages, eliminating redundancies, and enabling the strategic redeployment of resources,” she said.
She said the exercise is developmental rather than punitive, underscoring its purpose as a data-driven reform to reposition the federal civil service to meet present challenges while preparing for future demands.
The steering committee, chaired by Head of Service, is comprised of key Permanent Secretaries, the Accountant-General of the Federation, the Director-General of the Budget Office, representative from the Presidency and relevant consultants.
The committee will provide policy direction, approve key milestones, and ensure alignment with the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan, 2021-2025 (FCSSIP-25).
The project Iiplementation ommittee, chaired by the Permanent Secretary, Common Services Office, OHCSF, Dr Danjuma Usman Kalba, consists of senior directors from the OHCSF, representative from the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, the Federal Civil Service Commission and retired senior civil servants with technical expertise.
The committee would oversee operational tasks including methodology validation, data collection, compliance checks and timely reporting.
The Permanent Secretary, Service Policies and Strategies Office, Dr Deborah Odoh, described the exercise as “a significant step towards an efficient, productive, and effective Civil Service.”
She reaffirmed the OHCSF’s vision to build a world-class, professional, and accountable workforce capable of driving Nigeria’s development agenda.
Speaking on behalf of the two committees, the Permanent Secretary, Common Services Office, Dr Danjuma Usman Kalba, commended President Tinubu for approving what he described as “a bold reform fully aligned with the Renewed Hope Agenda.”
He said the audit is not a routine administrative procedure but a strategic initiative aimed at strengthening institutions and ensuring value for money in governance.
The steering committee is expected to conclude its work within six months while the project implementation committee will deliver its outputs within four months.