FG Inaugurates Committees for Civil Service Personnel Audit, Skills Gap Analysis

The Federal Government has inaugurated two key committees to drive a comprehensive Personnel Audit and Skills Gap Analysis across the Nigerian Civil Service, in a decisive move towards transforming the sector.

At the inauguration ceremony in Abuja, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF), Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, announced the approval of the Steering and Project Implementation Committees, stressing that the exercise aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

She explained that the initiative seeks to build a modern, efficient, and fit-for-purpose Civil Service by determining the true size, structure, and skills composition of the workforce while identifying competencies needed for future excellence.

According to her, the audit will establish a verified, digital personnel database linked to National Identification Numbers (NIN) and Bank Verification Numbers (BVN). This, she said, will help eliminate ghost workers, correct record inconsistencies, and generate an accurate workforce profile.

Mrs. Walson-Jack further noted that the exercise will pinpoint skills gaps in critical sectors such as ICT, project management, public finance, and data analysis. It will also strengthen training programmes for targeted capacity development, enhance Human Resource Management systems through digitalization using the Human Resource Management Information System, and achieve efficiency gains by blocking leakages, cutting redundancies, and redeploying resources strategically.

She emphasized that the initiative is developmental rather than punitive, describing it as a data-driven reform aimed at repositioning the Civil Service to tackle present challenges while preparing for future demands.

The Steering Committee, chaired by Mrs. Walson-Jack, comprises key Permanent Secretaries, the Accountant-General of the Federation, the Director-General of the Budget Office, a representative from the Presidency, and relevant consultants. The committee will provide policy direction, approve milestones, and ensure alignment with the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan 2021–2025 (FCSSIP-25).

The Project Implementation Committee, chaired by the Permanent Secretary, Common Services Office, OHCSF, Dr. Danjuma Usman Kalba, includes senior directors from the OHCSF, representatives from the Office of the Accountant-General, the Federal Civil Service Commission, and retired senior civil servants with technical expertise. The committee will oversee methodology validation, data collection, compliance checks, and timely reporting.

In her welcome remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Service Policies and Strategies Office, Dr. Deborah Odoh, described the initiative as a “significant step towards an efficient, productive, and effective Civil Service,” reaffirming the OHCSF’s vision to build a professional and accountable workforce capable of driving national development.

Speaking on behalf of both committees, Dr. Kalba commended President Tinubu for approving what he called “a bold reform fully aligned with the Renewed Hope Agenda.” He stressed that the audit is not a routine administrative procedure but a strategic effort to strengthen institutions and ensure value for money in governance.

Mrs. Walson-Jack charged both committees to begin work immediately and to discharge their mandates with professionalism, diligence, and integrity. She added that their success would lay a strong foundation for a Civil Service that is efficient, productive, incorruptible, and citizen-centred.

The Steering Committee is expected to conclude its work within six months, while the Project Implementation Committee has four months to deliver its outputs.