Nigeria’s $1trn Economy Target Rests on Effective Civil Service, HCSF Says
The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF), Mr. Olumuyiwa Enitan Abel, has stressed that an effective, innovative and results-driven Federal Civil Service is critical to achieving President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s target of building a $1 trillion economy by 2030.
Abel stated this on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, at the 2026 Council of Retired Federal Permanent Secretaries (CORFEPS) Week Colloquium and the unveiling of the CORFEPS Journal on Public Policy and Governance in Abuja.
The event, held at the Rotunda, Tafawa Balewa House, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was themed “Navigating the Headwinds of Governance: Centrality of the Civil Service.”
The HCSF said Nigeria’s economic transformation depended not only on sound government policies but also on the ability of public institutions to translate them into tangible results and sustainable development.
He noted that economic uncertainties, fiscal pressures and technological disruptions made it necessary to strengthen institutions, improve professional competence and ensure effective policy implementation.
According to him, the success of the Renewed Hope Agenda requires a Civil Service capable of providing objective policy advice, implementing decisions efficiently and remaining accountable to citizens.
Abel said the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan 2026–2030 (FCSSIP30) would build on the achievements of its predecessor, FCSSIP25, with greater emphasis on digital transformation, simplified administrative processes and improved performance management.
He added that achieving these objectives would require a fundamental change in work ethics, mindsets and institutional culture to promote efficiency, productivity and accountability.
In his remarks, Vice President Kashim Shettima, represented by the Special Adviser to the President on Power and Infrastructure in the Office of the Vice President, Mr. Sadiq Wanka, said national aspirations could only be realised when institutions effectively translated government policies into results.
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Shettima commended CORFEPS for providing a platform for experience-sharing, policy reflection and institutional learning to support national development.
Delivering the keynote address, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha, highlighted the Civil Service’s role in maintaining administrative continuity, strengthening coordination among institutions and sustaining governance across successive administrations.
Mustapha advocated merit-based recruitment and career progression, stronger links between performance and promotion, evidence-based policy advice and greater accountability for results.
He also called for stronger collaboration between CORFEPS and the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation to promote mentorship, preserve institutional memory and support serving public servants.
Abel, who joined other dignitaries in unveiling the maiden CORFEPS journal, described the publication as an important step towards documenting administrative experience, preserving institutional knowledge and promoting evidence-based policymaking.
He encouraged public servants, researchers and academics to contribute research and practical recommendations capable of addressing governance challenges, while congratulating CORFEPS on its commitment to professional development and improved public administration.
Earlier, CORFEPS Chairman, Alhaji Yayale Ahmed, emphasised the importance of sustained engagement between serving and retired public servants, noting that the experience of retired officers remained a valuable resource for addressing contemporary governance challenges.
Ahmed said preserving institutional memory and promoting knowledge-sharing across generations would help strengthen the Federal Civil Service. He added that the CORFEPS journal would provide a platform for documenting administrative experiences and advancing informed policy discussions.
The event was attended by serving and retired Permanent Secretaries, former Heads of the Civil Service of the Federation, including the immediate past HCSF, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, Alhaji Isa Bello Sali, senior government officials and members of the diplomatic corps.
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