Federal Civil Service Kick-starts Strategic Retreat on Personnel Audit and Skills Gap Analysis
The Federal Civil Service has commenced a high-level, three-day strategic retreat focused on harmonising the methodology for the Personnel Audit and Skills Gap Analysis (PASGA) — a critical reform initiative under the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan 2021–2025 (FCSSIP25).
The retreat, taking place from September 11 to 13, brings together key stakeholders, including Permanent Secretaries, representatives from the Office of the Auditor General for the Federation, members of the Steering and Implementation Committees, retired senior civil servants serving as resource persons, the Lead Consultants, Phillips Consulting Limited, and Fifteen Cluster Consultants who will execute fieldwork across various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
In her opening remarks, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, Chairperson of the Steering Committee, highlighted the strategic importance of the retreat as a decisive step in the ongoing journey of reform. She noted that the initiative is essential to repositioning the Federal Civil Service in alignment with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.
In a statement issued by Mrs Eno Olotu, the OHSCF’S Director of Information and Public Relations, Mrs. Walson-Jack explained that the PASGA project is designed to provide a credible and verifiable personnel database, which would go beyond mere staff counts to capture the full range of skills, competencies, and workforce distribution across the Service.
She stressed that the ultimate goal is to develop a practical, unified, and context-sensitive methodology for the audit — one that supports evidence-based planning, targeted training, efficient deployment, and transparent succession management.
The HCSF further stated that the retreat is an opportunity to produce a clear and implementable framework and called on participants to apply their knowledge, insights, and experience to ensure the success of the initiative. She reminded stakeholders that the Federal Civil Service must remain focused on its core mission of delivering efficient, accountable, and responsive governance to the Nigerian people.
According to her, a well-structured Civil Service is not an end in itself, but a vital mechanism for national development and public service delivery.
In his welcome address, the Permanent Secretary, Common Services Office, Dr. Danjuma Usman Kalba, described the retreat as “a defining moment in our collective journey to reposition the Federal Civil Service.”
He stressed that the initiative aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Eight-Point Priority Agenda and would lay a firm foundation for reforms shaping workforce planning, succession management, and sustainable service delivery.
Also speaking at the event, Dr. Foluso Phillips, Chairman, Phillips Consulting, commended the initiative for its critical focus on the Civil Servants themselves, who he described as the true drivers of effective governance. He noted that while many past reform efforts have centred on improving systems and structures, this project stands out by directly investing in the people who operate those systems.
Dr. Phillips noted that the PASGA exercise is essential for enhancing not only the competence of Civil Servants but also their character and overall capacity, stressing that the success of the initiative will help foster meaningful careers and contribute to building a stronger, more responsive, and future-ready Federal Civil Service that can better meet the needs of the Nigerian populace.
The PASGA initiative is expected to produce a comprehensive workforce profile that will inform future decisions on recruitment, training, deployment, and career progression within the Civil Service.
