Odimmegwa Johnpeter/Abuja
In a significant stride towards enhancing professionalism and uniformity in government communications, the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation has formally received the Nigerian Public Service Writing Style Manual. The document, developed by a specially constituted committee, was presented to the Head of the Civil Service, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, OON, mni, marking a pivotal moment in the ongoing reform of the Federal Civil Service. This was contained in a statement signed by Mrs Eno Olotu, mnipr, Director, Information and Public Relations.
The 148-page Manual, structured into six chapters and featuring 55 practical templates, provides definitive guidelines on official writing standards across Ministries, Extra-Ministerial Departments, and Agencies (MDAs). It addresses long-standing challenges of inconsistency in government documents while establishing clear protocols for formatting, referencing, digital communication, and appropriate national symbols.
During the presentation ceremony, Mrs. Walson-Jack emphasised the Manual’s transformative potential, describing it as “a cornerstone for building a more responsive and citizen-centric civil service.” She noted that adopting British English standards, standardised templates for official correspondence, and precise guidelines on national symbols such as the Coat of Arms and National Flag would eliminate ambiguities in government communications.
The Head of Service outlined a structured implementation plan, beginning with a service-wide validation process to incorporate input from stakeholders across the public service. The Manual will be presented for Presidential endorsement to formalise its status as a key policy document. Subsequently, it will be integrated into training programmes for civil servants and subjected to periodic reviews every five years to ensure its continued relevance.
Dr. Deborah Odoh, Permanent Secretary of the Service Policies and Strategies Office, highlighted the initiative’s alignment with the Federal Government’s vision of a world-class civil service and acknowledged the instrumental role of the service-wide GPT platform in supporting the committee’s work.
The Chairman of the Writing Style Manual Development Committee, Mr. Olusade Adesola, OON, a retired Federal Permanent Secretary, expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for fostering an environment conducive to reform. He particularly commended Mrs. Walson-Jack for her visionary leadership and hands-on involvement in driving the civil service transformation agenda.
With its nationwide implementation across all Federal MDAs, the Nigerian Public Service Writing Style Manual is set to revolutionise official documentation, ensuring clarity, consistency, and professionalism in government communications. This achievement underscores the Federal Government’s commitment to institutionalising best practices and enhancing public trust in governance processes.
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