The National Council of Civil Service Commissions (NCCSC) has called for urgent nationwide reforms to strengthen Nigeria’s public service, urging states to prioritise merit-driven recruitment, digital governance systems, and full institutional independence. The council made the call in Umuahia on Friday at the close of its 44th National Council Meeting, held from November 30 to December 5.
In a communiqué signed by the Chairman of the Communiqué Committee, Mr. Abubakar Ammani, and the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC), Mr. Philip Ndiomu, the council said the reforms were necessary to address mounting challenges, including political interference, nepotism, staff shortages linked to the “japa” trend, and declining professional standards.
The communiqué directed every State Civil Service Commission (CSC) to develop or review its strategic plan within 12 months, aligning with the FCSC’s 2026–2030 Strategic Plan. The meeting also approved a nationwide reorganisation of civil service commissions to promote professionalism, accountability, and modern personnel management.
According to the council, the reforms must prioritise digital transformation through the deployment of Human Resource Management Information Systems (HRMIS), the digitisation of personnel files, e-approval systems, and employee self-service portals to enable paperless operations. It stressed that leadership alignment, stakeholder engagement, and capability development were essential to achieving sustainable outcomes.
The council warned that state commissions must be allowed to operate with their constitutionally mandated independence. It raised concerns over the falsification of age records, inadequate training funds, and the negative effects of prolonged employment embargoes. It urged commissions to restore merit as the primary basis for recruitment and promotion, while enforcing zero tolerance for falsified records.
The communiqué further directed CSCs to adopt the Performance Management System in place of the outdated Annual Performance Evaluation Report, stating that this would strengthen oversight across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) through improved compliance checks.
On manpower planning, the council advised state commissions to address succession gaps by restoring structured workforce planning and ensuring a steady inflow of qualified personnel. It identified Abia State as one of the pilot locations with strong political backing and recommended that one state from each geopolitical zone should lead the early implementation of the strategic framework.
The council said it would seek support from international development partners, including the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and the European Union, to assist states in implementing the reforms. It also encouraged CSCs to join the Association of African Public Service Commissions (AAPSCOMS) to strengthen administrative cooperation.
In addition, it appealed to the Federal Government to support Nigeria’s hosting of the AAPSCOMS General Assembly and improve infrastructure for the organisation’s secretariat. It recommended that other human resource-focused institutions, including the Police Service Commission, National Assembly Service Commission, and Federal Judicial Service Commission, be included in future council activities.
The council emphasised that the success of the reforms would depend on strong political will and sustained commitment from state governments and civil service commissions to entrench merit-based systems, digital processes, and professional standards across the public sector.
