Economic Transformation: HCSF Rallies Civil Service to Deliver $1 Trillion Economy by 2030
The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF), Mr. Olumuyiwa Abel, has charged the Federal Civil Service to lead Nigeria’s economic transformation drive and deliver President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s target of a $1 trillion economy by 2030.
He called for a capable, innovative, productive and results-driven workforce able to translate government policies into tangible outcomes for sustainable national development.
Mr. Abel gave the charge on Wednesday, 28 October 2026, at the 2026 Council of Retired Federal Permanent Secretaries (CORFEPS) Week Colloquium and unveiling of the CORFEPS Journal on Public Policy and Governance. The event, held at the Rotunda, Tafawa Balewa House, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abuja, was themed “Navigating the Headwinds of Governance: Centrality of the Civil Service.”
He noted that prevailing economic uncertainties, fiscal pressures and technological disruptions have made strong institutions, professional competence and effective policy implementation more imperative than ever.
According to him, the success of the Renewed Hope Agenda rests not only on sound policies but also on the Civil Service’s capacity to provide objective advice, implement decisions efficiently and remain accountable to citizens.
The HCSF disclosed that the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan 2026–2030 (FCSSIP30) will build on the gains of FCSSIP25, with focus on digital transformation, simplified administrative processes and improved performance management.
Mrs. Eno Olotu, Director, Information and Public Relations (OHCSF), disclosed in a statement that Mr. Abel said achieving the objectives would require a fundamental shift in mindset, work ethic and institutional culture.
In his remarks, the Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, represented by the Special Adviser to the President on Power and Infrastructure in the Office of the Vice President, Mr. Sadiq Wanka, said national aspirations can only be realised when institutions effectively translate policies into results. He commended CORFEPS for providing a platform for experience-sharing, policy reflection and institutional learning.
Delivering the keynote address, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha, underscored the indispensable role of the Civil Service in ensuring administrative continuity and sustaining governance across successive administrations.
He stressed the need for merit-based recruitment and career progression, stronger alignment between performance and promotion, evidence-based advice and accountability for results.
Mr. Mustapha commended CORFEPS for its contributions to public administration through policy advisories, research and publications, describing retired public servants as a valuable resource for governance. He called for stronger collaboration between CORFEPS and the Office of the HCSF to promote mentorship, preserve institutional memory and support serving officers.
The HCSF, who joined other dignitaries to unveil the maiden edition of the journal, described it as a significant step towards documenting administrative experience, preserving institutional knowledge and promoting evidence-based policymaking.
He urged public servants, researchers and academics to contribute rigorous research and practical recommendations to address governance challenges.
Earlier, Chairman of CORFEPS, Alhaji Yayale Ahmed, said sustained engagement between serving and retired public servants remains critical to addressing contemporary governance challenges. He noted that the journal will serve as a platform for documenting experiences and advancing informed policy discourse.
The event was attended by serving and retired Permanent Secretaries, former Heads of the Civil Service of the Federation, including the immediate past HCSF, Mrs. Didi Walson-Jack, and Alhaji Isa Bello Sali, serving Permanent Secretaries, senior government officials and members of the diplomatic corps.
