Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, OON, Head of the Civil Service of the Federation
Federal Government kicked off a transformative three-day strategic retreat on Thursday in Abuja to standardize the methodology for the Personnel Audit and Skills Gap Analysis (PASGA) across the Federal Civil Service.
The initiative, a cornerstone of ongoing reforms, aims to enhance efficiency, professionalism, and service delivery within the civil service.
Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF), Mrs. Didi Walson-Jack, inaugurated the retreat, calling it a pivotal move toward modernizing the workforce.
“This exercise is a critical step in repositioning the Federal Civil Service to meet the demands of a dynamic Nigeria,” she declared, emphasizing its role in fostering a more agile and competent workforce.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the PASGA was mandated by President Bola Tinubu to bolster professionalism and streamline service delivery across federal ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs).
The audit is expected to lay the groundwork for a responsive and future-ready civil service.
Walson-Jack highlighted that the PASGA aligns with the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan (FCSSIP) 2021–2025. “This initiative will deliver a reliable personnel database, capturing not only numbers but also skills, competencies, and workforce distribution across MDAs,” she explained.
“With this data, we can drive targeted training, strategic deployments, and transparent succession planning to prepare the next generation of civil servants.”
She urged participants to develop a cohesive methodology to ensure the reforms’ success, noting that the retreat’s outcomes would guide future decisions on recruitment, promotions, training, and postings.
Chairman of Philips Consulting, the lead firm for the project, Mr. Folusho Philips, underscored the scale of the challenge.
“The civil service is a massive organization that demands thorough personnel verification to ensure workers are fit for purpose,” he said.
Philips added that the PASGA would pinpoint skill gaps and strengths, enabling the government to “identify the right jobs, the right people, and address capacity gaps effectively.”
He expressed optimism that a successful rollout could serve as a model for state-level public service reforms.
Permanent Secretary in the HCSF’s Common Services Office, Dr. Danjuma Kalba, emphasized the need for a unified approach among the 15 cluster consultants involved.
“Without harmonization, each firm might adopt different methods, risking inconsistent results. This retreat ensures a standardized, credible outcome,” he stated.
The retreat, themed “ _Building a Future-Ready Workforce: Reshaping Skills Today for Tomorrow’s Nigeria,”_ brings together members of the steering committee, implementation team, Philips Consulting representatives, and the 15 cluster consultants tasked with executing this national project.
(NAN)
