The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF), Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, has urged newly appointed Permanent Secretaries to provide purposeful leadership and fast-track ongoing reforms within the Federal Civil Service.
Speaking at the opening of a two-day induction programme in Abuja, Mrs. Walson-Jack said the appointees are assuming office at a critical time and carry the strategic responsibility of steering government operations toward national development goals.
She congratulated the five new Permanent Secretaries, describing their appointments as well-deserved recognitions of merit, competence and years of distinguished service. The officials will head key Service-wide Offices central to governance coordination.
Mrs. Walson-Jack emphasised the Federal Government’s drive toward achieving a fully paperless service, noting that digitalisation remains fundamental to transparency and modern governance. She urged the new leaders to champion the transition with firmness and exemplary conduct.
“You are custodians of institutional memory, architects of system stability, catalysts of reform, and guardians of ethical public service values,” she said, charging them to uphold the highest standards, embrace innovation, and deliver results that positively impact citizens.
Also speaking, the former Permanent Secretary, Career Management Office, Mrs. Fatima Mahmood, welcomed the appointees and expressed confidence in their ability to accelerate digitalisation and consolidate lasting reforms. She described the induction as a major milestone in their public service careers and the beginning of a demanding but impactful phase of national service.
The newly inducted Permanent Secretaries are:
Alh. Abdulkarim Ozi Ibrahim
Dr. John Chidiebere Ezeamama
Dr. Abdul Sule Usman Garba
Dr. Ishiyaku Musa Mohammed
Dr. Ukaire Binyerem Chigbowu
The intensive programme featured sessions with policy experts and senior administrators who equipped the appointees with insights, tools and strategic frameworks critical for effective policy formulation and for driving key national reforms.