The Federal government has promoted 338 senior civil servants to the rank of Director across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), in a bid to strengthen leadership capacity within the Federal Civil Service.
Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF), Mrs. Didi Walson-Jack, announced the promotion of the new directors, who were formally honoured at a recognition dinner held on Saturday in Abuja.
At the event, the Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC), Professor Tunji Olaopa, in an emotional highlight of the evening, announced automatic elevation for six female education officers from the Ministry of Defence who were kidnapped on November 10, 2025, along the Kabba–Lokoja highway in Kogi State.
In her remarks, Mrs. Walson-Jack, while speaking at what she announced as her last recognition dinner as Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, charged the newly promoted directors to protect, strengthen and sustain the reforms implemented under the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan (FCSSIP).
She emphasised that the elevation of directors is not a ceremonial reward but “a call to higher duty” marked by tougher scrutiny and broader responsibilities.
“The future of the Federal Civil Service now rests, in no small measure, on your shoulders,” she said.
Walson-Jack highlighted key expectations for the new directors, including strengthening performance management, driving digitalisation, promoting innovation, and building cohesive and motivated work teams.
She referenced the successful transition to a paperless service on December 31, 2025, describing digitalisation as “the new backbone of governance.”
She also announced two upcoming policies, namely: a Rotation Policy to allow directors to take turns overseeing the Office of the Permanent Secretary, thereby deepening leadership readiness; and an Understudy Policy, a structured mentoring system pairing directors with counterparts to enhance institutional knowledge and succession planning.
She noted that the promotion of 338 new directors signals the government’s push towards leadership renewal, accountability, and a digitally enabled public service, while expressing optimism that the new directors would strengthen governance outcomes and deliver heightened public value.
In his remarks, FCSC Chairman, Professor Olaopa announced the automatic promotion of six female education officers from the Ministry of Defence who were kidnapped on November 10, 2025, along the Kabba–Lokoja highway in Kogi State.
They were abducted while travelling from Lagos to Abuja to sit for the promotion examination.
Professor Olaopa described the incident as “regrettable and traumatic,” noting that the Commission approved their automatic promotion to Grade Level 12 on compassionate grounds.
He further disclosed that the Commission is now exploring deeper digital decentralisation of promotion processes to reduce travel risks and prevent similar occurrences.
He commended the 2025 promotion exercise for achieving a 100% success rate and for the credibility gained through digitisation.
However, he raised alarm over a “worrying decline in professional intelligence” among civil servants, particularly in areas such as: Public Service Rules; Financial Regulations; Administrative procedures; Official communication; Minute writing and briefs; Policy process and analysis; Stakeholder management; and democratic accountability.
He attributed the decline to years of recruitment embargo and structural inefficiencies, stressing that modernisation efforts are being undermined by a weak administrative foundation.
Olaopa also criticised the limitations of IPPIS in addressing manpower imbalances, noting that some cadres remain overstaffed while others suffer acute skills shortages.
He expressed hope that the ongoing Human Resource Audit by the OHCSF will help correct these systemic gaps.
The FCSC Chairman urged the newly promoted directors to approach their roles deliberately and aspire to become “change agents and game changers.”
“At the end of my service, what will I be remembered for?” he challenged them to constantly reflect on this question.
He emphasised that diligence, patriotism, and commitment to creating public value would define their legacy.