The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Didi Esther Walson-Jack, yesterday signalled the end of her tenure, urging civil servants to sustain ongoing reforms after she departs from office on August 27, 2026.

Speaking at the Mentoring Marketplace and presentation of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) Employee Self-Service Application in Abuja yesterday, Walson-Jack said the ongoing 2026 Civil Service Week would be her final one as Head of Service.

“This is the last Civil Service Week I will observe as Head of the Civil Service of the Federation,” she told civil servants gathered at the event.

“On the 27th of August 2026, I will close the chapter of a career that has given me everything: purpose, friendships, battles worth fighting, and the privilege of serving this great nation at its highest administrative level.”

The outgoing Head of Service used the occasion to reflect on her stewardship and thank civil servants for embracing reforms introduced during her tenure.

She stated that the future of the service lies in strengthening both people and systems, which informed the focus on mentoring and digital transformation during this year’s Civil Service Week activities.

The Head of Service described mentoring as a critical tool for leadership development, succession planning and institutional continuity.

Drawing from her own experience, she recalled how guidance from a senior officer early in her career shaped her professional development and inspired her commitment to nurturing future leaders.

She also unveiled the IPPIS Employee Self-Service Application, describing it as a major step in the modernisation of the Federal Civil Service.

According to her, the platform will allow civil servants to access and manage their personnel records more efficiently, reducing delays and bureaucratic bottlenecks that have long characterised administrative processes.

Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission, Prof. Tunji Olaopa, said the mentoring initiative was a key component of the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan (FCSSIP 25).

Olaopa lamented that the civil service had, over the years, lost valuable institutional knowledge as experienced officers retired without adequate replacement, largely due to prolonged recruitment restrictions.

He said the ongoing Human Resources Audit approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would help identify workforce gaps and provide a basis for rebuilding capacity across the service.

The FCSC chairman advocated structured mentorship, succession planning, and reverse mentoring to enable younger officers to share digital skills and emerging technology knowledge with senior colleagues. (The Nation)

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