The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF), Dr. Esther Walson-Jack, has reassured the Federal Government’s commitment to building a transparent, accountable, and citizen-focused public service for the interest of the nation and citizenry.
She said this while delivering the keynote at the second quarterly Citizen and Stakeholders Engagement Forum.
The event brought together senior government officials, civil society organisations, development partners, and private-sector actors to discuss ways of improving service delivery through stronger citizen involvement.
According to her, the present administration is implementing reforms aimed at ensuring that government services are efficient, technology-driven, and responsive to the needs of Nigerians.
Walson-Jack said that the ongoing implementation of the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan (FCSSIP 2025) is already producing positive results, particularly in digitalisation, human resource reform, and staff capacity development.
She said, “Citizens are central to every reform we implement. Our responsibility as public servants is to ensure that the services we offer translate into real improvements in the lives of Nigerians.”
The HCSF expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his support as well as development partners, particularly the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), AIG- Imoukhuede Foundation and other for their consistent support in strengthening institutions.
She urged all citizens and stakeholders to maintain an active partnership, underscoring that their scrutiny and insights are indispensable for holding the service accountable and ensuring reforms meet public expectations.
She reaffirmed that platforms for sustained engagement ensure the voices of the people remain central to building a World-Class civil service that inspires trust and delivers value to all Nigerians.
…FG set to disburse death benefits of deceased civil servants
Dr. Walson-Jack also said that the federal government is set for the disbursement of this year’s death benefits to the next of kins of deceased civil servants.
…Assigns official emails to over 92,000 workers ahead of full digitalisation
The HCSF revealed that over 92,000 of its workers nationwide, have been assigned official government email addresses to enhance secure and efficient communication ahead of full digitalisation, effective from December 31, 2025.
She said that 21 Ministries and Extra-Ministerial Departments have already gone paperless underscoring the readiness that come December 31, the Federal Civil Service would go paperless.
Dr. Walson-Jack said the introduction of official government emails with technical support from Galaxy Backbone forms part of a broader push to digitalise operations, improve transparency, and create a smarter government.
She explained that the recent migration to the ‘1Gov Cloud’ platform is a game-changer, allowing ministries to communicate seamlessly and securely.
The HCSF also said that the official GovMail system has already provided email accounts for over 92,000 public servants, connecting the service like never before.
She noted that the goal of all the reforms is for citizens to get instant online services, reducing delays and opportunities for corruption.
“By 31st December 2025, all Ministries and Extra-Ministerial Departments are expected to be entirely paperless, having adopted the Enterprise Content Management System (ECMS). Our goal is for citizens and users of public services to reach us online and receive instant responses and services.
“We envisage that reducing human interaction would eliminate complaints of inefficiency, delay, and corruption. Digitalisation represents more than a shift to digital files but a leap toward a modern, efficient, and transparent Civil Service where decision-making is quicker, records are secure, and processes are more innovative. Ministries and Agencies that achieve this milestone will be specially recognised for their dedication,” she said.
In his welcome address, the Permanent Secretary, Service Policies and Strategies Office (SPSO) in the OHCSF, emphasized that effective governance is fundamentally built on listening to citizens and fostering open dialogue.
He highlighted the forum as a demonstration of shared commitment to transparent, responsive, and people-centered governance.
Dr. Mohammed stated that meaningful progress emerges from constructive engagement, urging all participants to contribute openly and purposefully. He framed the event as a vital opportunity to assess challenges, strengthen accountability, and collectively translate policy into practice to “march to greatness.”
The Director of Policy, Analytics and Monitoring OHCSF, Mrs. Adenike Iwajomo, expressed appreciation to all who contributed to the success of the event and commended the unwavering support of the HCSF, urging participants to look forward to the next engagement in the first quarter of 2026.
Also at the event, a governance reform advocate and representative of development partners, Ms. Yemi Cardoso, stressed the need for continuous collaboration between government institutions and citizens, particularly in the area of digital governance.
She noted that participatory policy-making strengthens accountability and enhances public trust.
On his part, Chairman of the Joint Public Service Union Council, Comrade Ibrahim Sani, called for improved welfare and better working tools for civil servants, saying it would further boost productivity and quality of service delivery.
A representative of the civil society, Barrister Hauwa Abdullahi, urged the government to institutionalise feedback mechanisms that allow citizens to assess service performance across ministries and agencies.
Discover more from TheTimes Nigeria
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
