President Bola Tinubu on Thursday swore in Abel Enitan as the new Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF), following the retirement of his predecessor, Didi Walson-Jack.
Enitan’s swearing-in took place after Walson-Jack retired from the Federal Civil Service, having attained the statutory retirement age of 60.
Tinubu had approved the appointment of Enitan as the new Head of the Civil Service of the Federation with effect from August 27, 2026.
The appointment places Enitan at the head of the Federal Civil Service at a time when the administration is pursuing reforms aimed at improving efficiency, professionalism and accountability across government ministries, departments and agencies.
Before his appointment, Enitan served as Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Education. His appointment followed more than seven years of experience at the top administrative level of the Federal Government.
Enitan spent seven years and seven months as a Permanent Secretary, during which he served in key government offices and ministries.
His postings included the Ministry of Police Affairs, the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and the Office of the Vice President.
His experience across these institutions is expected to provide him with a broad understanding of the workings of the Federal Government and the challenges faced by ministries and agencies in delivering public services.
As Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Enitan will be responsible for providing leadership to the federal administrative structure and coordinating the activities of permanent secretaries and other senior civil servants.
The office of the HCSF is one of the most important positions in Nigeria’s public service. The holder is responsible for driving the implementation of civil service policies and ensuring that the federal bureaucracy remains professional, effective and responsive to the needs of Nigerians.
The Head of the Civil Service also plays a major role in implementing reforms designed to improve the performance of government institutions and strengthen the capacity of civil servants.
Enitan takes over from Walson-Jack, who became Head of the Civil Service of the Federation in August 2024 after her appointment by Tinubu.
Walson-Jack succeeded Folasade Yemi-Esan, who retired from the position after reaching the mandatory retirement age.
Her tenure was marked by continued efforts to modernise the Federal Civil Service and improve the delivery of government services through digital transformation, staff development and administrative reforms.
The retirement of Walson-Jack was in line with the established public service rule that requires civil servants to retire upon attaining 60 years of age or after 35 years in service, whichever comes first.
With Enitan’s assumption of office, attention is expected to shift to how he will build on ongoing reforms and address longstanding challenges within the Federal Civil Service.
The Federal Government has in recent years placed emphasis on improving productivity in the public service, reducing bureaucratic delays and making government institutions more efficient.
The civil service is also expected to play a central role in implementing policies under the Tinubu administration, particularly in areas such as economic reforms, education, security, social intervention programmes and public sector restructuring.
Enitan’s previous assignments in the Ministry of Police Affairs and Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs exposed him to sectors involving security, emergency response and social support programmes. His service in the Office of the Vice President also gave him experience working at the highest level of government.
His immediate past posting to the Ministry of Education placed him in charge of a sector that has faced several challenges, including funding, infrastructure gaps, teacher development and access to quality education.
The new HCSF is therefore expected to bring his experience from these different areas to bear in his new role.
The Federal Civil Service comprises ministries, departments and agencies responsible for implementing policies and programmes approved by the Federal Government. Permanent secretaries serve as administrative heads of ministries, while the HCSF provides overall leadership and direction for the service.
Enitan’s appointment is expected to provide continuity in the administration of the civil service while also giving him the opportunity to introduce his own priorities.
His first major task will be to ensure that the service continues to support the government’s reform agenda while maintaining the principles of professionalism, merit and political neutrality expected of career civil servants.
His appointment takes effect immediately, marking the beginning of a new phase in the leadership of Nigeria’s Federal Civil Service.