The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF), Mrs. Didi Walson-Jack, has expressed concern over the widespread lack of modern skills among Nigerian civil servants, warning that the deficit is undermining service delivery nationwide.
Walson-Jack made the remarks on Monday in Abuja at the opening of a two-day study tour for Heads of Service from Nigeria’s 36 states, held as part of the 2025 Civil Service Week celebrations.
She urged state governments conducting personnel audits to also assess existing skill gaps, noting that modern public administration demands new competencies.
“The truth is, most of our civil servants, even at the federal level, do not possess the right skills for a 21st-century workforce. We recruited many officers years ago, but with today’s technologically driven environment, recruitment must now prioritise relevant modern skillsets,” she said.
The Federal Government, she disclosed, is set to conduct a comprehensive personnel audit and skills gap analysis as part of broader reforms to improve recruitment and reposition the public service.
Referencing a study by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), which identifies 39 essential competencies for modern civil service delivery, Walson-Jack stressed the urgency of integrating these into Nigeria’s system.
While acknowledging some progress, the HCSF emphasised that deeper reforms were necessary, requiring collaboration and long-term commitment at all levels.
“Today’s gathering is not merely a moment of reflection, but a renewed call to action,” she added.
Walson-Jack also cited lessons from a recent study tour to Singapore, which she described as instrumental to the ongoing Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan (FCSSIP 2021–2025).
The current study tour, she said, seeks to promote strategic planning, improve service delivery, and build human capital through the adoption of digital tools and data-driven governance.
“We must strengthen collaboration between federal and state civil services under the vision of ‘One Service, Many Jurisdictions’,” she concluded.
In her remarks, Head of Service of Bayelsa State, Mrs Biabelemaye Onyema, described the study tour as a valuable peer-learning platform. “We are learning from one another; whatever works well elsewhere can be adopted and implemented in our respective states,” she said.
Head of Service of Katsina State, Mr Falalu Bawale, also commended the federal initiative, describing it as vital for deepening reforms nationwide.
