The Heads of the Civil Service of Nigeria and the United Kingdom have committed to deepening their collaboration to advance civil service reforms in Nigeria.
This decision was reached following a meeting between Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation of Nigeria, and Rt. Hon. Simon Case, the UK Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Civil Service, at the UK Cabinet Office in London.
The meeting, as disclosed by Mrs. Eno Olotu, Head of Information and Public Relations, focused on knowledge sharing and adopting best practices to support Nigeria’s ongoing reforms under the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan (FCSSIP) 2021-2025.
Key discussions centered on capability building, knowledge management, and the enhancement of Nigeria’s Civil Service Week activities, inspired by the UK’s “Civil Service Live” conference model. Both parties agreed to explore exchange programs and study tours to facilitate mutual learning and knowledge sharing.
The UK Civil Service Head committed to offering insights on Civil Service development, while also recognizing the value of learning from Nigeria’s experiences.
The statement emphasized that this collaboration would strengthen the partnership between the two countries’ civil services, enhance capabilities, and foster a mutually beneficial relationship.
Mrs. Walson-Jack reaffirmed the Nigerian Federal Government’s dedication to recognizing and rewarding civil servants who demonstrate exceptional diligence, integrity, accountability, and a citizen-centered approach in their duties.
She highlighted the importance of the Civil Service in delivering on the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda, emphasizing that the primary goal of the Civil Service is to serve the Nigerian people effectively.
During an interaction with top management staff who visited her office in honor of her birthday, Walson-Jack stated, “If we are to achieve the goals of the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda, it is essential that we foster unity and rally every member of the Civil Service to work with diligence, integrity, accountability, and, above all, a focus on the citizens of Nigeria, who are the true beneficiaries of our service.”
She also stressed the importance of acknowledging and celebrating the patriotic contributions of civil servants, noting that a recognition policy and guidelines are in the works to ensure that civil servants are celebrated appropriately and in a timely manner.
