The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF), Mrs Didi Walson-Jack, says most Nigerian civil servants lack the 21st-century skills required for effective service delivery. Walson-Jack stated this on Monday in Abuja at the opening of a two-day study tour for heads of service from all 36 federating states.
The study tour was part of the 2025 Civil Service Week activities. She advised states to embark on personnel audits to assess the skill gaps in their workforce. Walson-Jack said the Federal Government was preparing to conduct a personnel audit and skills gap analysis to guide future recruitment decisions.
She noted that a study by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) identified 39 essential skills that must be infused into Nigeria’s civil service.
Walson-Jack emphasised the need for urgent reforms to address the deficiencies, adding that the journey toward a fully modernised civil service required commitment at all levels.
Also, the Head of Service of Katsina State, Mr Falalu Bawale, commended Walson-Jack for the initiative, saying that such engagements would enhance civil service reform at both state and federal levels.
