The Federal Government has inaugurated the 13th Cohort of the Mandatory Training Programme (MTP) for Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of Federal Agencies and Parastatals, charging participants to embrace a leadership culture anchored on integrity, measurable impact, and citizen-centred results.
Declaring the programme open at the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON), Topo-Badagry, Lagos State, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, FNIM, CON, said public service leadership must move beyond routine activity to focus on tangible outcomes that advance national priorities.
Represented by Professor Simon Akaayar, the SGF described leadership in public institutions as “a sacred trust,” emphasizing that it should be measured not by position or process but by the positive difference made in citizens’ lives.
> “Leadership in the public service is not defined by position, but by tangible impact,” Akume said, directing CEOs to align their institutional goals with the core values of transparency, professionalism, and efficiency.
In her keynote address, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF), Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, OON, mni, highlighted the programme’s theme — “Lead Boldly: Reform. Deliver. Renew.” — as central to the ongoing Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan 2021–2025 (FCSSIP-25).
According to Walson-Jack, the CEOs occupy a pivotal role in translating reforms into real governance outcomes, noting that their leadership would determine the success of the Renewed Hope Agenda.
She urged public service leaders to “transition decisively from activity reporting to impact reporting,” embedding robust results-based management and performance accountability frameworks in their institutions.
The HCSF also outlined the government’s capability-building framework, known as the ONCE-K System, which integrates initiatives such as the Leadership Enhancement and Development Programme (LEAD-P) and the Federal Civil Service Online Academy — designed to foster an ethical, digitally driven, and high-performing workforce.
In his goodwill message, Hon. Sesi Oluwaseun Whingan, Member representing Badagry Federal Constituency, commended the Federal Government’s investment in leadership renewal and described ASCON as a “beacon of excellence” within the Badagry community.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Career Management Office, Mrs. Fatima Mahmood, said the MTP equips CEOs with tools to navigate governance, constitutional frameworks, public service rules, and financial regulations under the FCSSIP-25 reforms.
The Director-General of ASCON, Mrs. Funke Adepoju, described the training as a flagship intervention for leadership renewal, with modules covering Strategic Leadership, Public Financial Management, Ethics, Digital Transformation, and Performance Management.
In his remarks, the Lagos State Head of Service, Mr. Bode Agodi, underscored the importance of continuous learning and accountability in the face of evolving governance challenges, urging CEOs to embody excellence and integrity.
The programme, organised under the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, forms part of the Federal Government’s broader push to professionalise public service leadership and strengthen performance delivery in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.