By: Goodluck E. Adubazi, Abuja.
In a press release dated June 26, 2025, by Emem Maria Offiong, ANIPR,
AD/Head, Press, Information & Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, Abuja,
The Honourable Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, stated:
“It was a roll call of activities marking thirty years of achievements as the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs joined various MDAs and the international community to participate in the maiden International Civil Service Week, organized by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.”
In the same vein, the Honourable Minister, who accompanied the President, hailed the initiative, describing it as a laudable reform that would accelerate professionalism in the Civil Service.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, on Thursday, set a bold new direction for public administration as he officially opened the first-ever International Civil Service Conference at Eagle Square, Abuja, calling on civil servants across the globe to become “the quiet architects of stability, innovation, and public trust.”
Delivering a keynote address themed “Rejuvenate, Innovate & Accelerate!”, the President:
Positioned the Civil Service as central to his Renewed Hope Agenda, describing it as “the platform for delivering national transformation.”
Announced an immediate Personnel Audit and Skills Gap Analysis across the Federal Civil Service to ensure “the right people are in the right roles.”
Directed MDAs to adopt strict data governance practices, stating that “data is the new oil—its value increases the more it is responsibly refined and shared.”
Confirmed approved welfare packages, including the new national minimum wage, salary adjustments, and a Pension Bond Scheme.
Unveiled Service-Wise GPT, a locally developed AI assistant designed to fast-track policy implementation and offer real-time guidance on civil service rules and procedures.
The President commended Nigeria’s international partners, including the United Nations, United Arab Emirates, and others, for their continued support of Nigeria’s leadership and digital-literacy initiatives. He called for deeper collaboration “that lifts every nation through mutual respect, pooled innovation, and collective wisdom.”
Applauding Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, OON, mni, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, for her “tireless pursuit of reform,” the President highlighted progress under the Federal Civil Service Strategy & Implementation Plan 2021–2025, which includes:
Service-wide digitization and e-learning platforms.
Rollout of performance management systems anchored on measurable metrics.
“These steps place innovation at the heart of public-service reform and build a future-ready, tech-savvy workforce,” he added.
Hon. Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim also commended the President for signing a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to transform the Public Service Institute of Nigeria into a global centre of excellence.
Declaring that the conference “must be more than a talk shop,” President Tinubu urged delegates from Azerbaijan, Canada, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, the UK, the US, and Nigeria’s 36 states to return home “with renewed determination to infuse our systems with energy and purpose.”
“Civil servants are not supporting actors,” he emphasized. “They are the central platform of the Renewed Hope Agenda—a future we can all look forward to with optimism.”
Earlier, Mrs. Walson-Jack welcomed delegates to “a defining moment for Public Service,” spotlighting the self-funded nature of the conference, the Aspire Stage for young civil servants to pitch solutions, and plans to digitally transform five state civil services as pilot projects.
With the President’s gavel, the 2025 International Civil Service Conference was declared officially open, promising deliberations that will “translate swiftly into action” and solidify Nigeria’s leadership in public-sector innovation.