The Federal Government has charged the Accountant-General of the Federation and other newly appointed permanent Secretaries in the Federal Civil Service to recommit themselves to service excellence, innovation, and ethical governance to achieve tangible and needed transformative results.
Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack, gave the charge on Wednesday at a 3-day induction programme for the newly appointed Permanent Secretaries and the Accountant-General of the Federation, noting that the expectations placed on them were high from Nigerians.
The induction ceremony was conducted for the 19 top government bureaucrats including the accountant-general of the Federation and other Permanent Secretaries who were appointed between May 2024 and February 2025.
Walson-Jack particularly charged the inductees on the effective implementation of the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan (2021–2025), saying government is in the final of lap FCSSIP 25, and that it should be their top priority to ensure that the blueprint is fully implemented, and the results are “tangible and transformative”.
The directive resonated with the 2025 theme for the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation is “FCSSIP 25: Final Sprint – Delivering Results”.
While congratulating the inductees, Didi Walson-Jack urged them to ensure that their conduct reflects the integrity, diligence, and excellence that the nation expects and deserves.
The Head of Service said: “As Permanent Secretaries and as the Accountant-General of the Federation, you occupy strategic positions at the apex of Nigeria’s Federal bureaucracy. You are the engine room of policy implementation, service delivery, and administrative stewardship.
“The importance of your roles cannot be overstated. You must always put your best foot forward and ensure that your conduct reflects the integrity, diligence, and excellence that this nation expects and deserves.
“Over the course of this three-day induction, you will benefit from a well-designed programme tailored to equip you for excellence.
“I urge you to pay close attention to the lectures and presentations delivered by our carefully selected resource persons. Their wealth of experience and insight is invaluable. But more importantly, I encourage you to put into practical use the knowledge you gain here to position your Ministries, Departments, and Agencies for greater service delivery,” she stated.
Speaking on the need for collective efforts in delivery of quality service to the citizenry, she told the officials that the induction was also to serve as an opportunity to build strong working relationships, not only with one another, but with their teams, while urging them to foster open, respectful communication with their subordinates and superiors alike.
“Collaboration, mutual respect, and unity of purpose are critical to our collective success. Embrace this opportunity to not only build networks but to recommit yourselves to service excellence, innovation, and ethical governance. The expectations placed upon you are high, but so too is our confidence in your ability to deliver,” she stated.
Permanent Secretary, Career Management Office, Mrs. Fatima Mahmood in her welcome remark, reminded her colleagues of the challenges and expectations that come with the appointments.
According to her, the challenges are real, but so too are the possibilities to make a lasting impact through leadership rooted in purpose, vision, and results.
“This year’s theme, “Building Leadership and Strategic Management for Federal Permanent Secretaries”, reminds us that this programme is far more than an orientation. It is a strategic investment in institutional capacity and policy coherence across government.
“It is a moment to reflect, to engage, and to align ourselves with the tools, values, and perspectives necessary for effective governance,” she said.
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