Odimmegwa Johnpeter/Abuja
The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF), Mrs Didi Esther Walson-Jack, has marked her 60th birthday with the presentation of two books documenting her 34-year career in law, public administration and the Nigerian public service.
The books, I Planted: A Memoir of Purposeful Service and Beyond the Mandate: A Memoir on Leadership, Legacy and Labour of Public Service, were presented on Tuesday in Abuja at an event attended by prominent government officials, former political leaders, public servants, family members and other dignitaries.
Reflecting on her journey, Walson-Jack recalled how she began her career as a young lawyer at the Ministry of Justice in Port Harcourt 34 years ago, with little idea of how far her professional path would eventually take her.
“Thirty-four years ago, I walked into a Ministry of Justice office in Port Harcourt as a young lawyer with no idea that the road would eventually lead here, to this room, on the eve of my sixtieth birthday, presenting two books about a journey I could never have planned,” she said.
The HCSF described the books as a reflection of the experiences, lessons and milestones accumulated throughout her career, likening her contributions to seeds planted along the way.
“I planted along the way. Today, I simply invite you to come and see some of what grew,” she said.
Walson-Jack expressed appreciation to the guests who chose to celebrate the milestone with her, while also looking forward to an independent and candid assessment of the two books.
At the event, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who was represented by the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Mr Kingsley Ude, said Nigeria’s transformation required a public service capable of moving beyond routine administration to purposeful and measurable delivery.
The President said the regular reporting of ministers on the implementation of the Renewed Hope Agenda was part of efforts to build a culture in which government would be judged by its results rather than its announcements.
“The requirement for ministers to report regularly on progress in implementing the Renewed Hope Agenda is an important part of creating a culture in which governance is increasingly judged not merely by what it announces but by what it delivers,” Tinubu said.
He disclosed that he occasionally reviewed the dashboard of the Central Delivery Coordination Unit to monitor the performance of ministries and implementation of government programmes.
“I want to say that I occasionally look at the dashboard of the Central Delivery Coordination Unit to get this information without having to call any minister,” he said.
According to Tinubu, the approach reflects the administration’s determination to reposition the civil service as an engine of delivery rather than a system focused primarily on processes.
He said Nigeria needed public servants capable of implementing reforms, delivering results and sustaining national development.
“We need public servants who understand that competence is a duty, integrity is non-negotiable, innovation is a necessity, and serving Nigerian people is the ultimate purpose of public office,” he said.
The President stressed that the Renewed Hope Agenda was not merely a political declaration but a transformation programme requiring institutions capable of translating policies into tangible results.
“Our reforms in governance and the public service are therefore designed to change the way government works, to move from routine administration to purposeful delivery, from activity to outcomes, from processes that merely consume time to systems that produce measurable value for citizens,” he said.
Tinubu also identified digitalisation as a key component of public sector transformation, urging the Federal Civil Service to extend its digital reforms across the wider public sector.
“Digitalisation must continue to be a defining feature of the modern Nigerian Public Service,” he said, insisting that no institution should be left behind in the transition to a more efficient, data-driven and citizen-focused government.
He further emphasised the importance of professionalism and institutional continuity, noting that while governments and political leadership may change, the machinery of government must retain the competence and institutional memory required to sustain the Nigerian state.
“Governments may change. Political leadership may change. Policies may evolve. But the machinery of government must retain the institutional memory, technical competence and professional discipline required to sustain the Nigerian state,” Tinubu said.
The President commended Walson-Jack for her contributions to the repositioning of the Federal Civil Service, describing her as a reform-minded public servant who understood the need for continuous institutional evolution.
“I did not have to preach reform to her,” Tinubu said. “She came into the office of Head of the Civil Service of the Federation with a clear understanding that the civil service must continuously evolve if it is to meet the demands of a rapidly changing Nigeria and an increasingly complex world.”
Former President Goodluck Jonathan, who attended the event with his wife, Patience Jonathan, also commended Tinubu for appointing Walson-Jack as Head of Service.
Jonathan described the appointment as a landmark for Bayelsa State, noting that Walson-Jack became the first person from the state to occupy the position.
He said her career demonstrated how perseverance and resilience could turn difficult circumstances into opportunities for greater achievement.
Jonathan recalled that when Walson-Jack transferred from the state to the Federal Civil Service, she was initially offered a position below the level she had attained in the state service.
“Very demoralising,” Jonathan recalled, adding that he encouraged her to accept the appointment and build her career within the Federal Civil Service.
“I said, come over as Assistant Director, you will not regret it. It’s better you come and go through and become a Federal Permanent Secretary and retire as a Federal Permanent Secretary, instead of retiring as a State Permanent Secretary,” he said.
Jonathan noted that Walson-Jack’s eventual rise beyond the level he had envisaged underscored the importance of perseverance, saying difficult experiences could sometimes serve as preparation for greater responsibilities.
The presentation of the two books thus provided an opportunity to celebrate Walson-Jack’s 60th birthday, reflect on her 34 years of public service and highlight ongoing efforts to reform Nigeria’s civil service for greater efficiency, professionalism and results.
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