The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF), Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, OON, mni has reiterated her commitment to building a more robust, dynamic and responsive Federal Civil Service and expressed readiness to partner with Rivers State in deploying strategic reforms to improve and strengthen the State Civil Service and the general well-being of the people.
Mrs. Didi Walson-Jack made this disclosure during a courtesy visit to the Executive Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency, Siminalayi Fubara, on Monday, September 23, 2024 at the Rivers State Government House, Port-Harcourt.
The HCSF, who was in Rivers State to represent President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, at the 63rd Annual General Meeting of the Nigerian Institute of Management Chartered (NIM) in Port-Harcourt, described her visit to the state as homecoming due to her personal affinity with the good people of the state, adding that her career in the Civil Service began in the state.
Mrs. Didi Walson-Jack promised to strengthen the collaborative ties that will enhance social-economic development of the state, as well as putting necessary reform measures in place towards improving the state Civil Service.
She informed the governor of the on-going reforms at the Federal Civil Service, “At the federal level, our ongoing civil service reforms are focused on performance management and digital transformation to improve transparency, accountability, and efficiency.
The Head of Service reiterated the need of leveraging on technology in the service. She stated that the world is changing rapidly and technology is indispensable. She informed that the Federal Civil Service has already embraced technology.
“We have embraced digitalisation in the Federal Civil Service to streamline processes, enhance communication, and deliver better services. I look forward to discussing how the federal and Rivers State Civil Services can collaborate on technology-driven initiatives that can serve as a model for other states and regions”.
Mrs Walson-Jack disclosed that the visit to the State has offered her an opportunity to strengthen partnership and explore new avenues for collaboration with a shared commitment to innovation and progress that will positively impact Rivers State and Nigeria.
She expressed appreciation to the governor’s public congratulatory message following her appointment as the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation some few weeks back.
Governor Siminalayi Fubara welcomed the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation to the state recounting her as an exemplary ambassador of Rivers State. He stated that his administration inherited a state civil service that has been stagnated over the years as a result of lack of promotion and adequate training for civil servants in the state.
The governor expressed readiness to partner with the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation on accelerating reforms that will reposition the state civil service for the benefit of both the state and the country at large.
Governor Fubara praised Mrs. Didi Walson-Jack for her professional conduct in discharging official duties and engagements. He encouraged her to continue to serve as a role model for the Civil Service.
The governor promised to ensure that equal opportunities are given to the indigenes of Rivers state to enable them compete favourably with their counterparts from other regions, stating that with the support of the HCSF, the past glory of the Rivers State Civil Service will be restored.