Odimmegwa Johnpeter/Abuja
Pledge to deepen Citizens and Stakeholders’ engagement took centre stage at the inaugural Stakeholders and Citizens Engagement Forum in Abuja with a strong commitment to
achieve full digitalization of core processes by December 31, 2025.
The pledge was made by he Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack during the inaugural Stakeholders and Citizens Engagement Forum in Abuja on Friday, pledging that “public trust is priceless” and must be sustained through openness and collaboration.
The event has in attendance senior government officials, state heads of service, civil society leaders, development partners, and members of the media. It focused on the theme “Strengthening Civil Service Delivery through Citizens and Stakeholders Engagement”.
According to the Head of Service, the forum was a “testament to our commitment to an efficient, productive, incorruptible and citizen-centered civil service,” . She further noted that Nigerians are beginning to believe in the civil service again.
Her words: “Your voice is not just welcomed. It is essential to our progress and to restoring public trust. This forum is designed to foster honest dialogue, shared problem solving, and collective ownership of the reforms that will reshape our civil service for the better,”.
According to Walson-Jack, key gains from the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan 2021–2025, FCSSIP25, include the career-long training initiative, nationwide personnel audit to ensure “the right people in the right roles,” performance management system replacing outdated appraisals, payroll integrity measures, and a wave of digitalization that has already given over 34,000 civil servants official government emails.
The Head of Service also confirmed that all core processes are on track to be fully digitized by the December deadline, enabling faster service delivery, fewer lost files, and easier online access to government services. Other reforms include innovation challenges across ministries, improved staff welfare, improved pension, and healthcare processing for retirees.
She also lauded the media and civil society for amplifying the civil service reforms and providing grassroots feedback. She urged stakeholders to “continue to engage constructively” and help shape the successor plan to FCSSIP25.
She revealed that the success of the 2025 edition, has given added impetus for the 2026 Civil Service International conference whose preparation are already underway, envisioned as “truly transformational” with anticipated participation from public servants, academia, civil society, and global experts.
She noted: “As we strive to meet our goal of an efficient, productive, incorruptible and citizen-centered civil service, every reform we implement and every result we deliver in these final months will strengthen our legacy of excellence,”.
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