National Council on Establishments: HCSF calls for nation-wide Service Reform

National Council on Establishments: HCSF calls for nation-wide Service Reform

The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF), Mrs Didi Walson-Jack has led a renewed national drive for far-reaching Public Service reforms as the 47th National Council on Establishments (NCE) commenced in Kano.

The forum, which convened Heads of Service from the 36 States and the FCT together with senior Federal Government officials, reaffirmed a shared commitment to strengthening collaboration and advancing a unified, future-ready, and innovation-driven Nigerian Civil Service.

Delivering her keynote remarks, the HCSF expressed deep appreciation to the Government and people of Kano State for their exceptional hospitality and unwavering support to national development. She praised Gov. Abba Kabir Yusuf for hosting the Council and also commended Alhaji Abdullahi Musa, the State Head of Service, describing him as a valued member of the Body of Heads of the Civil Service of Nigeria.

While reiterating that the success of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda rests heavily on an agile, competent, and ethical Public Service, Mrs Walson-Jack highlighted the significance of the NCE as the apex forum for establishment matters.

In a statement by Mrs Eno Olotu, OHCSF’s Director of Information and Public Relations, she explained that its deliberations are critical to shaping the policies, structures, and professional standards of Nigeria’s Public Service.

The HCSF emphasised the urgent need for greater coordination and harmonised standards across the federation, noting that Nigeria’s size and complexity demand a unified reform agenda that aligns Federal and State efforts in order to ensure consistent service delivery, accountability, and improved national performance.

She commended the recent unprecedented collaboration that had taken place between the Federal Civil Service and State Civil Services through joint capacity-building programmes, peer-learning retreats, reform dialogues, and harmonised policy initiatives.

According to her, the synergy has strengthened nationwide reforms and created a shared vision for Public Service renewal.

Reflecting on the progress of the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan 2021–2025 (FCSSIP25), the HCSF reported significant achievements in digitalisation, human resource transformation, performance management, staff welfare, innovation, and cultural reorientation.

Mrs Walson-Jack reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to achieving a fully paperless Civil Service by 31 December 2025 through the adoption of the Enterprise Content Management System (ECMS), which will facilitate digital workflow and enhance efficiency and transparency across Ministries.

The Executive Governor of Kano State, Alhaji Kabir Abba Yusuf, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Umar Farouk Ibrahim, paid glowing tribute to the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, praising her transformative leadership and innovative reforms that continue to redefine the character and operational ethos of public administration in Nigeria.

He noted that this year’s meeting is a crucial national dialogue on the future of the Nigerian Civil Service, its spirit, capacity, and centrality to the nation’s democracy and development.

Alhaji Yusuf commended the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation for her transformative leadership, which he said has fostered unprecedented harmony and created valuable platforms for professional exchange between the Federal Civil Service and the State Civil Services, thereby strengthening governance structures across the federation.

The meeting witnessed the full and active participation of the State Heads of Service and the FCT, whose collective insights and contributions enriched the Council’s deliberations. Their presence underscored the shared national resolve to deepen collaboration, harmonise standards, and drive a unified reform agenda across all tiers of government.

The Governor formally declared the Council open, after which members commenced preliminary deliberations. The discussions will continue Thursday with the consideration of the Council memos.