Again President Tinubu Reiterates Commitment to ensuring a more competent, responsive public service.

Again President Tinubu Reiterates Commitment to ensuring a more competent, responsive public service.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has formally unveiled a comprehensive reform blueprintfor Nigeria’s civil service, declaring it central to delivering the Renewed Hope Agenda and repositioning Nigeria on the global stage.

At the first-ever International Civil Service Conference in Abuja, with participants from over 10 countries. all Nigerian states, and private sector stakeholders, President Tinubu announced a comprehensive Personnel Audit and Skills Gap Analysis to ensure a more competent and responsive public service.

“This must not be just a ceremonial gathering it must catalyse real change,” Tinubu said. “We will place the right people in the right roles and use data as our foundation for reform.”

He emphasized the role of secure and sovereign data, directing MDAs to rigorously collect and publish information, protected under the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023. “We must let our data speak. It is more than oil; it grows in value when responsibly shared,” he said.

The President praised Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, for driving landmark reforms such as:

* The Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan 2021–2025

* The AI-powered Service-Wise GPT

* Performance management systems

* A landmark MoU with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to transform the Public Service Institute of Nigeria and digitise five states' civil services

In her welcome remarks, Walson-Jack noted that the conference was entirely self-funded, with pre-conference study visits to Singapore, the UK, and the UAE. She also highlighted the Aspire Stage where young civil servants presented transformative ideas** for the future of governance.

Goodwill messages were delivered by:

* Mr. David D. Archer Jr., Deputy Governor, British Virgin Islands

* Lord Gus O’Donnell, former UK Cabinet Secretary

* Ms. Amina J. Mohammed UN Deputy Secretary-General

From Taraba State, Mr. Kwanter Julip Genesis praised the conference as “mind-blowing and progressive,” affirming that his delegation would implement insights to improve public service delivery back home.

The conference featured dozens of exhibitions by MDAs and private sector innovators, showcasing new tools, technologies, and reform milestones across Nigeria.

President Tinubu closed with a powerful charge: “Let us return to our institutions not the same way we came, but infused with energy, purpose, and resolve. A revitalised civil service will be our legacy.