Oyo-Ita’s Tenure Defined by Reforms, Innovation – Aide

By David Odama

Former Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Winifred Oyo-Ita, is being commended for the far-reaching reforms and innovative initiatives that transformed Nigeria’s civil service during her tenure between 2017 and 2019.
Reacting to criticisms against the former Head of Service, her media associate, Ofem Uket, said detractors have chosen to downplay her landmark achievements instead of acknowledging the roadmap she laid for repositioning the civil service.

He urged Nigerians to cultivate the habit of rewarding hard work rather than engaging in image-damaging criticism.
Uket noted that Oyo-Ita introduced the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan (FCSSIP), a comprehensive reform framework aimed at modernising operations, strengthening accountability and enhancing service delivery across the federal public service.
He added that she championed the “EPIC” culture, which promotes an Efficient, Productive, Incorruptible and Citizen-Centred civil service, a philosophy that became a guiding principle for ministries, departments and agencies.
According to him, Oyo-Ita was a strong advocate of digitalisation, pushing for a paperless working environment through the Enterprise Content Management (ECM) system to boost productivity and improve information sharing. She also spearheaded the digitisation of federal employees’ records, laying the groundwork for the Human Resource module of the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS).
Uket further disclosed that her emphasis on capacity building led to the training of over 1,000 civil servants across various sectors within three years. Under her leadership, the Public Service Institute of Nigeria (PSIN) was rehabilitated and upgraded with new clinics, hotels and classrooms to strengthen training facilities.
To enhance morale and performance, Oyo-Ita introduced a Reward and Recognition Policy to motivate outstanding civil servants. She also supported the establishment of the Efficiency Unit in the Ministry of Finance, a move that helped curb leakages and reduce wastage in government expenditure.
He recalled that her administration prioritised workers’ welfare through the launch of the Federal Integrated Staff Housing (FISH) programme, designed to address housing challenges faced by civil servants.
Analysts say Oyo-Ita’s leadership left a lasting mark on Nigeria’s civil service, placing it on a path of modernisation, accountability and improved service delivery. Her reforms, they note, continue to serve as reference points in ongoing efforts to strengthen governance and public administration in the country.