By OKON OKON

Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF), Mrs. Didi Walson-Jack, says most Nigerian civil servants lack the 21st-century skills required for effective service delivery.

Walson-Jack stated this at the opening of a two-day study tour for heads of service from all the 36 states of the federation on Monday in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the study tour was part of the activities marking the 2025 Civil Service Week.

She, therefore, advised states embarking on personnel audits to also assess the skill gaps in their workforce.

“The truth is, most of our civil servants, even at the federal level, do not have the right skills for a 21st-century workforce.

“We recruited many officers years ago, but with today’s technologically-driven world, recruitment must be guided by relevant modern skills,” she said.

Walson-Jack said that the Federal Government was preparing to conduct a personnel audit and skills gap analysis to guide future recruitment decisions.

She noted that a study by Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) identified 39 essential skills that needed to be infused into Nigeria’s civil service.

Walson-Jack emphasised the need for urgent reforms to address the deficiencies, adding that the journey toward a fully-modernised civil service required commitment at all levels.

“While we celebrate the progress made, we must remain mindful of the work that lies ahead. Today’s gathering is not just a moment of reflection, but a renewed call to action,” she said.

The HCSF recalled a recent study tour to Singapore, describing it as ‘inspiring’ and vital in shaping the ongoing Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan (FCSSIP 2021–2025).

She said that the objectives of the current tour were to strengthen strategic planning, service delivery and human capital development through the adoption of digital tools and data-driven systems.

“We must strengthen collaboration between federal and state civil services under the vision of ‘One Service, Many Jurisdictions’,” she stated.

In her remarks, the Head of Service of Bayelsa, Mrs. Biabelemaye Onyema, said that the tour was a peer-review opportunity among states.

“We are learning from one another; whatever we observe that is working well can be adopted and replicated in our respective states,” she said.

Also speaking, the Head of Service of Katsina State, Mr. Falalu Bawale, commended Walson-Jack for the initiative, saying that such engagements would enhance civil service reform at both state and federal levels.

“This is part of an ongoing effort to address issues affecting the civil service nationwide,” Bawale said. (NAN)