The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack, has stressed the need for closer collaboration between the Federal and State Civil Services to create a more innovative, responsive, and citizen-centered civil service.
Speaking during the first virtual interactive meeting with the Heads of Civil Service from Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, Walson-Jack emphasized the importance of teamwork in driving national development.
She noted that sharing successes and working together would help both arms of the service achieve the collective goal of national growth.
“We are privileged to be part of a civil service composed of individuals with rich experiences. This diversity is an asset to the collective mission of delivering a more efficient and impactful civil service,” Walson-Jack said.
The meeting provided a platform for exchanging ideas and receiving input to improve the services provided to Nigerians. Walson-Jack assured state officials of her commitment to leveraging her skills and experience to transform the civil service into a world-class institution that plays a key role in national development.
She also pledged to enhance communication between the Federal and State Civil Services to ensure mutual benefits and learning from each other’s innovations.
“The Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation will strengthen communication lines to ensure mutual benefits. We want to share our successes with you, and we are eager to learn from the innovations happening at the state level,” she added.
Walson-Jack expressed her commitment to building on the achievements of her predecessors while pursuing new avenues to improve the efficiency of the civil service.
She urged the state Heads of Service to collaborate and support her in achieving these objectives, emphasizing the civil service’s crucial role as the engine of governance.
She praised the dedication of state Heads of Service for upholding core values such as accountability, meritocracy, professionalism, loyalty, and efficiency, and she highlighted the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan (FCSSIP) 2021–2025.
The FCSSIP, anchored on six key pillars, aims to transform the civil service. Walson-Jack encouraged states that have not yet adopted the initiative to do so and implement its vision.
During the feedback session, several state Heads of Service, including representatives from Lagos, Benue, Ekiti, Nasarawa, Oyo, Ogun, Ebonyi, and Abia, lauded Walson-Jack’s foresight in convening the meeting.
They emphasized the importance of Federal and State Civil Services working together to share knowledge and tackle challenges within their respective domains.