2025 INTERNATIONAL CIVIL SERVICE CONFERENCE: TINUBU LAUDS HCSF DIDI WALSON-JACK .... Says "Civil Servants Are The Very Essence Of Administration."

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR 

..... Directs all Ministries, Extra-Ministerial Departments, and Agencies to capture information rigorously, safeguard it under the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023, and release it swiftly for public value, ensuring the highest data protection and privacy standards.

Nigeria's President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, on Thursday in Abuja flagged off the inaugural edition of the 2025 International Civil Service Conference,  hosted by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation. 

According to the Nigerian President, "This meeting of minds is a historic gathering and a bold step toward redefining governance in an era of rapid transformation.

"This maiden conference, with the theme "Rejuvenate, Innovate & Accelerate!" is timely, apt and compelling. It captures our collective ambition to reimagine and reposition the Service." He said.

In his speech, Tinubu noted that, "In today's rapidly evolving world of technology, innovation remains critical in ensuring that the Civil Service is a dynamic, digital, ethical, and globally competitive institution. An innovative Civil Service ensures we meet today's needs and overcome tomorrow's challenges." He said.

Acknowledging the efforts of Civil servants, President Tinubu reiterated that Civil Servants are not just the backbone of effective administration across borders but the very essence of it. 

"Your role as the quiet architects of stability, innovation, and public trust is invaluable. The Civil Service, as the vehicle through which the government delivers public goods, has steered us through economic cycles, constitutional transitions, and social democratic consolidation. Today, we stand on the sturdy foundation our predecessors built, and your leadership and stakeholder roles remain crucial and integral in modernising and fortifying the Civil Service for generations unborn." He declared.

"This vision aligns with our Renewed Hope Agenda, a comprehensive roadmap for building a secure, inclusive, and prosperous Nigeria. At the heart of this Agenda is a Public Service that works efficiently and effectively for every Nigerian. A revitalised Civil Service is not a supporting actor but the central platform for delivering national transformation and the Renewed Hope Agenda, a future we can all look forward to with optimism. Your role in this transformation is indispensable.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu thanked the country's esteemed international partners and delegates for their steadfast support, saying; "Your collaboration and guidance have been invaluable in building a world-class Civil Service that is efficient, accountable, and people-centred.

He also thanked the United Nations and the Government of the United Arab Emirates for facilitating the Executive Leadership Programme on Leadership and Digital Literacy. "Your initiatives have strengthened our senior officials' strategic capacity and inspired us to aim higher. 

"We look forward to deepening our global partnerships and forging a shared vision that lifts every nation through mutual respect, pooled innovation, and collective wisdom.

The President commended the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, for her outstanding leadership and tireless pursuit of reform. 

"Your stewardship has driven the successful implementation of the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan 2021-2025, marked by milestones such as digitalising work processes, continuous learning initiatives, and launching Service-Wise GPT - our homegrown AI tool to enhance policy execution and efficiency.

He noted that "under her guidance, we have seen measurable progress in Human Capital Development, Service-Wide Digitalisation and Performance Management. The landmark MoU with the United Nations Development Programme is a bold step that places innovation at the heart of public service reform. It will transform the Public Service Institute of Nigeria into a global centre for public service excellence. This partnership underscores our commitment to building a future-ready, tech-savvy Civil Service.

"In keeping with our commitment to a Service responsive to workers' needs, our Administration has prioritised key welfare policies to improve Public Servants' well-being. These include the new national minimum wage, the consequential adjustments to salaries arising from the new minimum wage, and the approval of the Pension Bond Scheme, among others. These policy instruments are social compacts that reflect our recognition of the sacrifice and Service of our workforce.

"We can only guarantee the high-performance culture our country deserves by placing the right people in the right roles. To this end, I have authorised a comprehensive Personnel Audit and Skills Gap Analysis across the Federal Civil Service to deepen capacity." He stated.

He therefore urged all responsible stakeholders to prioritise the timely completion of this critical exercise to begin implementing targeted reforms and realise the full benefits of a more agile, competent, and responsive Civil Service.

"Accurate, secure, and sovereign data is the lifeblood of every reform we pursue. Data is the new oil, but unlike oil, its value increases the more it is refined and responsibly shared. I therefore direct all Ministries, Extra-Ministerial Departments, and Agencies to capture information rigorously, safeguard it under the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023, and release it swiftly for public value, ensuring the highest data protection and privacy standards.

"We must let our Data speak for us. We must publish verified datasets within Nigeria and share them in internationally recognised repositories. This will allow global benchmarking organisations to track our progress in real-time and help us strengthen our position on the world stage.

"Anchoring these platforms within local or allied data centres preserves privacy and upholds data sovereignty. Upon this foundation of trusted, protected, and globally accessible information, we shall practice evidence-based governance, climb international rankings, and build a proactive Public Service that anticipates the needs of every Nigerian", the President said.

The Nigerian leader noted that, "this Conference must be more than a ceremonial gathering or a talk shop; it must catalyse real change."

He therefore charged all public service leaders and stakeholders to return to their institutions with renewed determination: to infuse our systems with energy and purpose, embrace innovation as a duty, and accelerate the implementation of policies and services that improve the lives of all Nigerians. The time to act is now."

In his conclusion, Tinubu called for unity under the shared ideals of service excellence, stressing that his administration is committed to forging partnerships that transcend national boundaries, harness technology for the greater good, and elevate the civil Service as a beacon of hope and progress for all nations.