By Queen Kunde
Nigeria’s Head of the Civil Service, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, OON, mni, has announced that the era of business as usual in the federal civil service is over.
Speaking at the opening of the first-ever International Civil Service Conference at Eagle Square, Abuja,on Wednesday 25th June 2025, Walson-Jack set a transformative tone for public sector governance, not just in Nigeria but across the continent.
Addressing delegates from Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas, she described the gathering as more than a conference calling it a movement of renewal, creativity, and progress. With passion and clarity, she stated that the Nigerian civil service has reached a defining crossroads where it must “rejuvenate, innovate, and accelerate” to meet the demands of the 21st century.
Her speech drew a standing ovation from an audience filled with reformers, technocrats, and global policy experts.
Walson-Jack highlighted key reform strides already underway under her leadership, including the introduction of a paperless Enterprise Content Management System (ECMS), a performance management system that links civil servants’ goals to national development priorities, and the restructuring of training institutions to focus on digital skills and future-readiness. According to her, these initiatives are not abstract ideas or pilot projects but active deliverables that reflect the new spirit of public service transformation.
Her message was firm: the Nigerian federal civil service is no longer content with playing catch-up. It is determined to lead, to innovate, and to serve citizens with purpose, efficiency, and integrity. She emphasized that change must become a culture not a buzzword and that the global standards of governance can and must be met here at home.
Adding weight to the conversation, governance expert and keynote speaker Dr. Joe Abah offered a sobering reminder that even the most forward-thinking reforms will struggle without strong political backing. “If the politicians do not want the civil service to work, it won’t, no matter how visionary the leadership is,” he warned, urging Nigeria’s political class to support the Head of Service’s agenda.
He praised Walson-Jack’s approach as bold, courageous, and future-oriented.
The two-day conference, organized in collaboration with the UK-based Global Government Forum, features speakers and delegates from countries like Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, and Singapore, who are sharing proven models of innovation, accountability, and public service delivery. Key topics include artificial intelligence in governance, climate-responsive administration, citizen-centered design, and agile leadership.
In a passionate appeal during her closing remarks, Walson-Jack turned her attention to the next generation of public servants. “You are not the future of the civil service you are its present,” she declared. “Your creativity, your energy, and your courage will define whether we succeed or fail in this journey.”
As the conference continues with strategic discussions and international partnerships expected to follow, one message has been made crystal clear: the Nigerian civil service is entering a new era and it will never be business as usual again.
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