Tinubu orders comprehensive Personnel Audit to strengthen Civil Service

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

In a bold move to enhance the efficiency and competence of Nigeria’s public sector, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed a comprehensive personnel audit and skills gap analysis across the Federal Civil Service.

Speaking at the inaugural International Civil Service Conference in Abuja, held as part of the 2025 Civil Service Week, the President emphasized the critical role of civil servants as the backbone of effective governance, describing them as “quiet architects of stability, innovation, and public trust.”

The conference, themed “Rejuvenate, Innovate & Accelerate,” aligns with Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which envisions a modernized, digital, and globally competitive civil service.

He stressed that placing the right people in the right roles is essential for fostering a high-performance culture.

“This audit will deepen capacity and enable targeted reforms to create a more agile, competent, and responsive civil service,” Tinubu stated, urging stakeholders to prioritize its timely completion.

Highlighting the importance of data-driven governance, the President called for rigorous data collection and management by Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).

He described data as “the new oil,” emphasizing its role in evidence-based decision-making. Tinubu directed MDAs to adhere to the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023, ensuring secure and swift data sharing to enhance public value and strengthen Nigeria’s global standing through verified datasets in international repositories.

The President also outlined welfare initiatives to boost workforce morale, including the new national minimum wage, consequential salary adjustments, and the Pension Bond Scheme. These measures reflect his administration’s commitment to improving civil servants’ well-being.

Commending the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, Tinubu praised her leadership in implementing the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan 2021-2025.

Key achievements include digitalizing work processes, launching continuous learning initiatives, and introducing Service-Wise GPT, a tool to enhance service delivery.

Walson-Jack noted that the conference, fully self-funded through strategic partnerships, exemplifies innovation and collaboration, positioning Nigeria’s civil service to lead Africa.

The event garnered international support, with goodwill messages from global figures, including the United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed, former UK Civil Service Head Lord O’Donnell, and British High Commissioner Dr. Richard Montgomery. Their endorsements underscored the global significance of Nigeria’s efforts to modernize its public service.