HCSF Tasks Civil Service With Driving Tinubu’s $1trn Economy Target by 2030
The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF), Mr Olumuyiwa Enitan Abel, has called for a more capable, innovative, productive and results-driven Federal Civil Service to accelerate Nigeria’s economic transformation and support President Bola Tinubu’s ambition of building a $1 trillion economy by 2030.
Abel stressed that the Civil Service must strengthen its capacity to translate government policies into measurable outcomes, noting that effective policy implementation, institutional efficiency and accountability remain critical to achieving sustainable national development.
He made the call on Wednesday at the 2026 Council of Retired Federal Permanent Secretaries (CORFEPS) Week Colloquium and the unveiling of the maiden edition of the CORFEPS Journal on Public Policy and Governance, held at the Rotunda, Tafawa Balewa House, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abuja.
The colloquium was themed, “Navigating the Headwinds of Governance: Centrality of the Civil Service.”
The HCSF noted that prevailing economic uncertainties, fiscal pressures and technological disruptions had reinforced the need for strong public institutions, professional competence and effective policy implementation.
According to him, the success of the Renewed Hope Agenda depends not only on sound government policies but also on the ability of the Civil Service to provide objective policy advice, implement decisions efficiently and remain accountable to citizens.
He disclosed that the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan 2026–2030 (FCSSIP30) would build on the achievements of its predecessor, FCSSIP25, with renewed emphasis on digital transformation, simplified administrative processes and improved performance management.
Abel, however, emphasised that achieving these objectives would require a fundamental transformation in the mindset, work ethics and institutional culture of public servants.
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 Nigeria’s national aspirations could only be achieved when public institutions effectively translated government policies into tangible results.
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 indispensable role of the Civil Service in maintaining administrative continuity, strengthening inter-institutional coordination and sustaining governance across successive administrations.
He identified merit-based recruitment and career progression, stronger links between performance and promotion, evidence-based policy advice and accountability for results as essential pillars of effective governance.
Mustapha also praised CORFEPS for its contributions to public administration through policy advisories, research and publications, describing the experience of retired public servants as a valuable resource for strengthening governance and national development.
He called for closer 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.
Earlier, Abel joined other dignitaries in unveiling the maiden edition of the CORFEPS Journal on Public Policy and Governance, describing the publication as an important initiative for documenting administrative experiences, preserving institutional knowledge and advancing evidence-based policymaking.
He urged public servants, researchers and academics to contribute rigorous research and practical recommendations towards addressing governance challenges, while congratulating CORFEPS on its commitment to professional development and the advancement of public administration.
In his opening remarks, CORFEPS Chairman, Alhaji Yayale Ahmed, underscored the importance of sustained engagement between serving and retired public servants, noting that the wealth of experience accumulated by retired officers remained a valuable resource for tackling contemporary governance challenges.
Ahmed stressed the need to preserve institutional memory, promote intergenerational knowledge-sharing and provide constructive policy insights to strengthen the Federal Civil Service.
He also expressed optimism that the newly unveiled 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.
