Singapore to Host 38 Nigerian Heads of Service for Civil Service Training

In a strategic initiative to enhance Nigeria’s civil service, the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, has announced plans to lead a delegation of 37 Heads of Service, including representatives from all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), on a retreat to Singapore.

Walson-Jack revealed that the retreat aims to study the operational frameworks of Singapore’s renowned civil service, focusing on replicating best practices in Nigeria. The announcement was made during a media briefing in Abuja, where she also highlighted her office’s achievements within her first 100 days in office.

She noted that the retreat is part of broader discussions with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to explore various methods for enhancing Nigeria’s civil service. Ongoing negotiations with the UNDP’s Country Representative include plans for a potential Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to train key personnel from the Public Service Institute of Nigeria (PSIN) at the Global Centre for Public Service Excellence in Singapore.

Walson-Jack also reflected on her recent engagement at the United Nations General Assembly in New York. During her address on Agenda Item 22 (Eradication of Poverty) and Item 24 (Agriculture, Food Security, and Nutrition), she met with UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed to discuss capacity-building and digitalization initiatives. These discussions underscored Nigeria’s commitment to global development goals and provided opportunities to adopt international best practices.

Further emphasizing her collaborative approach, Walson-Jack mentioned her interactions with key stakeholders, including the Senate and House Committees on Public Service Matters. These engagements aimed to solicit legislative support and feedback on her reform agenda.

Reflecting on her first 100 days in office, Walson-Jack described it as a significant milestone that provided an opportunity to assess achievements, audit progress, and set future goals. Since assuming office on August 14, 2024, she has prioritized accelerating the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan 2021–2025 (FCSSIP 25), which aims to transform the civil service into a professional, efficient, and globally competitive institution.

“To ensure no initiative is neglected, we established and inaugurated seven ‘war rooms,’ each dedicated to overseeing one of the six pillars of the FCSSIP reforms, along with enabling measures. These war rooms track progress, ensuring measurable and impactful outcomes,” she explained.

Additionally, Walson-Jack addressed ongoing efforts to verify civil servants receiving salaries despite relocating abroad. Through the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS), these anomalies are being identified and resolved to maintain the integrity of the civil service payroll.

This initiative marks a critical step in aligning Nigeria’s civil service with global standards, leveraging international expertise to drive sustainable reform.