HCSF Inducts Newly Promoted Directors, Charges Them to Drive Excellence, Innovation, and Accountability
The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, has charged newly promoted Directors to drive excellence, innovation, and accountability in their new roles, to sharpen the effectiveness of governance and positively impact the lives of citizens.
Speaking at the Induction Training Programme for Newly Promoted Directors in Abuja, today, Walson-Jack emphasized that their promotion carries great responsibility and urged them to uphold the core values of the Federal Civil Service: Accountability, Meritocracy, Professionalism, Loyalty, and Efficiency.
According to her, “This Induction Training Programme is a strategic intervention under the Onboarding Component of our ONCE-Knowledge System, which stands for Onboarding, Navigation, Competency and Enterprise to develop capacity in the Public Service.” She added that extending structured onboarding to the 338 newly promoted Directors aims at reinforcing government’s commitment to institutionalised leadership development.
The HCSF, who noted that promotion is a call to greater responsibility, stated further that “This phase of your career is unlike any other, as it places resources, people, and operational oversight firmly in your hands. With officers from Grade Level 16 and below under your supervision, your leadership will directly influence outcomes.”
Describing them as the gatekeepers of what reaches the Permanent Secretaries in their various Ministries, the HCSF stressed the need for accuracy, completeness and highest quality in all their submissions, emphasizing that excellence and accountability must define their work.
Walson-Jack highlighted key focus areas, including ethical leadership, innovation, and delivering tangible results, adding that two new policies: Rotational Overseeing of the Office of the Permanent Secretary and the Understudy Policy have been introduced to strengthen leadership continuity and succession planning in Service.
She highlighted that Ministry budgets are executed at the Departmental level and charged them on managerial capabilities for judicious deployment of resources
According to her, “Regardless of your cadre, you are now responsible for managing people, systems, and finances. In this regard, accountability is critical. Your ability to lead transparently will determine results and define your legacy. Your role demands vision, courage, and execution. You are the drivers of service delivery, custodians of policy implementation, and stewards of ethical leadership.”
Walson-Jack urged the Directors to engage fully in the programme, build strong teams, and support their Permanent Secretaries to achieve ministerial deliverables. “Promotion is not a privilege; it’s a mandate. Nigerians expect efficiency, responsiveness, and value for money,” she said.
In a welcome address, the Permanent Secretary, Career Management Office, Dr. Binyerem Ukaire, congratulated the newly promoted Directors on their elevation and emphasized the strategic importance of their role in the Federal Civil Service.
He stated that the Directorate cadre is a strategic position that bridges policy formulation and implementation, emphasizing that “You are expected to provide leadership to your Department, uphold the highest standards of professionalism, and ensure that government policies are translated into measurable results.”
Dr. Ukaire urged the Directors to lead with integrity, fairness, and accountability, noting that “The growth and credibility of the Federal Civil Service depend greatly on the quality of leadership at your level.”
