By Charles Maduka
President Bola Tinubu has directed a comprehensive personnel audit and skill gap analysis across all levels of the federal civil service as part of a broader effort to reform the nation’s public sector and improve efficiency.
The directive was issued on Thursday in Abuja during the maiden edition of the International Civil Service Conference. Tinubu emphasized the importance of data-driven reforms and urged stakeholders to expedite the completion of the exercise to enable the implementation of targeted interventions.
“I have authorized the comprehensive personnel audit and skill gap analysis across the federal civil service to deepen capacity,” Tinubu stated. “I urge all responsible stakeholders to prioritize timely completion of this critical exercise.”
The president also instructed all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to give top priority to data integrity and sovereignty. Citing the Nigeria Data Protection Act of 2023, he stressed the need for proper capture, safeguarding, and strategic publication of public sector data.
“We must let our data speak for us. Publishing verified data assets within Nigeria and sharing them globally will strengthen our position and support international benchmarking,” he added.
Highlighting the vital role of civil servants in his Renewed Hope Agenda, the president described them as the engine of national development. He called for a results-driven and digitally agile civil service capable of navigating today’s fast-evolving technological and economic environment.
“This conference is a bold step toward redefining governance in an era of rapid transformation,” Tinubu said. “An innovative civil service ensures we meet today’s needs and overcome tomorrow’s challenges.”
Speaking earlier, Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack, praised the president for his support. She noted that civil servants across the country were re-energized by his commitment to transformation.
She added that reforms, including insights from study tours to the UK, US, and Singapore, are already making a positive impact, and pledged to fast-track the implementation of the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan 2025 (FCSSIP 25).
According to Walson-Jack, key pillars such as digitalisation, performance management, and continuous learning are being prioritized to improve service delivery, transparency, and accountability across government institutions.
She reaffirmed the commitment of the civil service to fostering innovation, ethical leadership, and citizen-centered governance as part of its transformation agenda.
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