Tinubu describes civil service as backbone of effective administration
President Bola Tinubu has ordered the audit of personnel and the analysis of the skill gaps in the civil service.
The President gave this order in his remarks while declaring open the maiden International Civil Service Conference in Abuja as part of the 2025 Civil Service Week, organized by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation on Thursday.
Tinubu at the event also described the Nigerian civil service as the backbone of any effective administration, extolling the invaluable roles they play as the engine room through which government was able to deliver public goods and programmes.
The President said it was imperative for government to ensure that the right people with the right competencies were put in positions for an efficient public service.
“Civil servants, you 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 moderniszing and fortifying the Civil Service for generations unborn.
“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 authorized a comprehensive Personnel Audit and Skills Gap Analysis across the Federal Civil Service to deepen capacity. I urge all responsible stakeholders to prioritize the timely completion of this critical exercise to begin implementing targeted reforms and realize the full benefits of a more agile, competent, and responsive Civil Service, “the President stated.
The President said that the Civil Service Conference resonated with the administration’s vision for a public service that aligns with global best practices and conforms with today’s digital 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. 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.
“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,” he said.
On his administration’s effort towards enhanced and vibrant work force, the President declared that the administration had prioritized key welfare policies to improve the wellbeing of staff adding that the new national minimum wage, the consequential adjustments to salaries arising from the new minimum wage, and the approval of the Pension Bond Scheme, were some of the instruments to boost morale of the workforce.
He spoke on the imperative of data gathering and management by Ministries, Departments and Agencies for people – centred and evidence- based governance.
“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
