In April, a significant milestone in the ongoing reform of Nigeria’s public service was achieved as the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF), Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, OON, mni, formally flagged off the 12th batch of the Mandatory Training Programme (MTP) for Chief Executive Officers and Directors-General of Federal Government parastatals and agencies. The training took place at the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON), Topo, Badagry.
Described as a pivotal reform effort under Pillar One (Capability Building and Talent Management) of the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan 2021–2025 (FCSSIP-25), the programme is designed to strengthen executive leadership and institutional accountability across public sector organisations.
In her opening address, Mrs. Walson-Jack emphasized that the MTP is far more than a routine orientation—it is a transformative platform aimed at sharpening strategic thinking, enhancing governance competencies, and aligning new and serving agency heads with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which promotes accountability, innovation, and meritocracy in public service.
Highlighting the need to sustain momentum, the HCSF used the occasion to unveil Executive Master Classes, a new follow-up initiative developed in collaboration with the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF). The classes will deliver advanced, tailored training for top officials to address evolving national and global challenges in governance and service delivery.
“This training is not ceremonial—it is a strategic platform to build leadership competence, clarity, and confidence,” Mrs. Walson-Jack asserted, charging participants to serve with distinction and uphold the highest ethical standards.
She further directed ASCON to incorporate a dedicated session on the FCSSIP-25 in all future MTPs, ensuring greater synergy between institutional training and national service delivery priorities.
- The HCSF also reflected on several reforms introduced during her first 100 days in office, including:
- The launch of Service Wise GPT, a generative AI platform to enhance workplace productivity;
- The development of a Compendium of Circulars from 1995 to date;
- New frameworks on Mentorship, Reward and Recognition, and Consequence Management.
In her welcome remarks, ASCON Director-General, Mrs. Cecilia Gayya, mni, hailed the HCSF’s physical presence at the event as historic—marking the first time a sitting Head of Service has personally flagged off the MTP since its introduction in 2020. She reaffirmed ASCON’s commitment to deepening public sector excellence through innovative, responsive training modules.
Also present at the event were Mrs. Fatima Sugra Mahmood, Permanent Secretary, Career Management Office; Mr. Alfred Abah, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Civil Service Matters; and Mr. Elisha Benjamin, Director of Learning and Development.
The Mandatory Training Programme continues to be a vital cornerstone in the broader mission to reposition the Nigerian civil service as a high-performing, citizen-centered institution capable of delivering quality services to all Nigerians.