The Federal Government has announced that, from January 2026, only certified human resource (HR) professionals will be deployed to HR positions in the Civil Service.
The Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) said the directive is part of ongoing reforms under the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan 2021–2025 (FCSSIP25), aimed at building a more capable, accountable and citizen-focused Civil Service.
The first sensitisation workshop, held in Abuja, marked the beginning of a nationwide campaign to ensure that officers handling HR functions across ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) obtain the required professional qualifications. According to officials, the reform will improve talent management, enhance institutional performance and support the Renewed Hope Agenda of the current administration.
Delivering the keynote address, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, OON, mni, described the reform as “a landmark moment in public service transformation.” She stressed that HR should be treated as a professional discipline, not just routine administration.
“HR is the nervous system of any functional organisation. The quality of recruitment, deployment, performance management and staff development ultimately determines how effectively the public service delivers on its mandate,” she said.
Walson-Jack noted that, for decades, HR functions had been handled by officers without structured training in people management, leading to inconsistencies, weak accountability and skills mismatches. The ongoing reforms, she explained, will address these gaps through the introduction of a National HR Competency Framework, accreditation of officers, partnerships with training institutions such as ASCON, PSIN, CMD and the Federal Training Centres (FTCs), a review of HR training standards and the rollout of a structured certification timeline.
She further emphasised that while the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (CIPM) remains the only statutory body authorised to certify HR professionals in Nigeria, the OHCSF will also work with other national and international institutions for training, benchmarking and knowledge-sharing.
In a goodwill message, the Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC), Prof Tunji Olaopa, described the professionalisation drive as “long overdue.” He observed that the absence of a professional HR corps had undermined organisational performance for many years.
“This is not just a reform; it is a restructuring of the heart of government machinery,” he said, pledging the Commission’s full support for a smooth transition and equitable deployment of certified officers.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Career Management Office, Mrs. Fatima Sugra T. Mahmood (FSM), commended the Head of Service for her leadership. She explained that the sensitisation exercise was designed to provide officers with clarity on transitional steps and certification pathways. She added that, from 2026, preference in HR postings will be given to certified officers, while those already in service would be supported through the professionalisation process.
The OHCSF stated that the reform is also expected to enhance industrial harmony across the Civil Service. With training in employee and industrial relations forming part of HR certification, officers will be better equipped to engage with unions, resolve disputes and strengthen workplace trust and fairness.
The workshop was attended by Permanent Secretaries, HR Directors, leaders of professional and regulatory bodies, and administrative officers from across core MDAs. Officials said the professionalisation initiative represents the first step in repositioning HR for the “Final Sprint – Delivering Results” under the Civil Service transformation agenda.
