The Federal Government has launched a new initiative aimed at improving performance, efficiency, and accountability across the Nigerian Civil Service. The initiative, known as the Personnel Audit and Skills Gap Analysis (PASGA), was officially introduced on Thursday in Abuja by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF).
The move is part of broader reforms to transform the civil service into a modern, data-driven, and globally competitive workforce.
Speaking at a sensitisation programme for Permanent Secretaries, Directors, and Unit Heads within the OHCSF, Dr. Deborah Odoh, Permanent Secretary of the Service Policies and Strategies Office, spoke on behalf of the Head of Civil Service, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack.
She said PASGA is a flagship initiative under the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan 2021–2025 (FCSSIP25) and is designed to improve how the government manages its workforce.
“Today’s event marks another significant milestone in our collective journey to reposition the Civil Service as an efficient, accountable, and digitally driven institution,” Dr. Odoh stated.
According to her, PASGA will audit the existing workforce, identify skills gaps, and align civil servants’ competencies with their job roles. It will also improve decision-making on recruitment, training, promotions, and deployment.
Over the years, the Nigerian Civil Service has struggled with outdated and inaccurate personnel records, poor planning, and mismatched skill sets. These issues have led to inefficiencies and contributed to the underperformance of many government institutions.
Dr. Odoh said PASGA will help fix these issues by creating a reliable and up-to-date profile of every civil servant.
“We are establishing a new benchmark — one that is transparent, data-driven, and performance-focused,” she added.
She emphasized that promotions and appointments in the civil service should no longer be based on guesswork or personal connections but on verified data and merit.
“PASGA is not just an audit — it is a transformative tool that will shape the future of our workforce. It will ensure that appointments, promotions, and performance evaluations are based on accurate data and merit,” she said.
The initiative also supports President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which includes a focus on institutional reform, innovation, and effective public service delivery.
Also speaking at the event, Mr. Ayo Muritala, one of the 15 Cluster Consultants working on the PASGA project, addressed concerns raised by some civil servants about data privacy and security.
He assured all stakeholders that robust data protection systems have been put in place and that civil servants’ personal information will be safe and secure.
“You can rest assured that your data is in safe hands. We’ve taken every precaution, and there is absolutely no cause for concern,” Muritala said.
He explained that the audit will use a hybrid approach, combining physical and digital methods to collect and process information efficiently.
Muritala said the consultants are fully prepared and committed to carrying out the project with professionalism and transparency, urging civil servants to cooperate with the data collection teams.
The introduction of PASGA is seen by many experts as a necessary step toward building a modern and effective civil service in Nigeria.
Reform advocates have long called for the digitisation of public sector records, merit-based appointments, and proper workforce planning.
With PASGA, the federal government hopes to eliminate ghost workers, improve workforce planning, and make the civil service more productive and responsive to national development goals.
Civil servants are expected to undergo verification and assessment exercises in the coming months as part of the implementation process.
The Head of the Civil Service has called on all ministries, departments, and agencies to give full support to the initiative, describing it as a turning point for the public service in Nigeria.
