Civil Service Reform: Walson-Jack Inaugurates Committees for Nationwide Audit
The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, has inaugurated two high-level committees to oversee a service-wide personnel audit and skills gap analysis across the federal civil service.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony in Abuja, Walson-Jack said the move was part of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and a central pillar of the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan (2021–2025).
According to her, the nationwide audit will help eliminate ghost workers, resolve record inconsistencies, and create a verified digital database of all federal employees linked to the National Identification Number (NIN) and Bank Verification Number (BVN). She explained that the exercise was essential to building “a modern, efficient, and fit-for-purpose Civil Service.”
Two committees were unveiled for the project:
The Steering Committee, chaired by Walson-Jack herself, includes Permanent Secretaries, the Accountant-General, the Director-General of the Budget Office, and representatives from the presidency. It will provide policy direction and ensure that the audit aligns with government priorities.
The Project Implementation Committee, led by Dr. Danjuma Usman Kalba, Permanent Secretary of the Common Services Office, will handle the technical work of data collection, methodology validation, compliance, and reporting.
Both committees have been given strict timelines: the Implementation Committee is expected to submit its report within four months, while the Steering Committee has six months to deliver its findings.
Dr. Deborah Odoh, Permanent Secretary of Service Policies and Strategies, described the initiative as “a significant step towards a productive and accountable Civil Service.” Dr. Kalba also commended the effort, calling it “a strategic reform that will ensure value for money and better service delivery.”
The nationwide audit forms part of broader reforms currently underway, which also include digitisation, a new performance management system, and enhanced citizen engagement.
With these committees now in place, the Federal Government is expected to move closer to achieving a civil service that is transparent, professional, and responsive to the needs of Nigerians.
