Lawal Tasks Civil Service Commissions on Digital Transformation, Institutional Reforms
The Federal Civil Service Commission has urged Civil Service Commissions across the country to embrace institutional reforms, digital transformation and effective reputation management as essential measures for building a professional, efficient and future-ready public service capable of meeting the demands of modern governance.
The Director overseeing the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Federal Civil Service Commission, Mr Dahiru Lawal, made the call while declaring open the technical session of the 45th Annual National Council of Civil Service Commissions holding in Delta State.
The annual meeting, which has the theme, “Towards a Future-Ready Civil Service: The Role of Institutional Re-engineering, Reputation Management and Culture Change at the Civil Service Commission in Nigeria,” brought together key stakeholders from the Federal Government, states and the Federal Capital Territory to deliberate on strategies for strengthening public administration and improving service delivery.
Lawal described the theme as timely, noting that rapid technological advancement, changing economic realities, rising public expectations and increasingly complex governance challenges had made it imperative for civil service institutions to review their operations and adopt innovative approaches to administration.
He observed that Nigerians increasingly expect public institutions to be transparent, accessible, accountable and responsive, with simplified administrative procedures, credible recruitment and promotion processes, timely decisions and responsible management of public resources.
According to him, Civil Service Commissions must move beyond routine personnel administration and reposition themselves as strategic institutions driving national development through professionalism, institutional efficiency and technological innovation.
He explained that the commissions occupied a critical position in determining the quality, composition and professional standards of the workforce responsible for implementing government policies and programmes.
On institutional re-engineering, Lawal identified outdated administrative structures, cumbersome procedures, manual record-keeping, fragmented responsibilities and resistance to change as some of the obstacles undermining efficiency in the public service.
He therefore advocated a comprehensive review of administrative processes, particularly in recruitment, appointments, confirmation, promotion, discipline and personnel records management.
He further encouraged the adoption of digital solutions, including secure personnel databases, electronic document management systems and technology-driven platforms to improve application processing, personnel administration and institutional monitoring.
However, he cautioned that digital transformation must be supported by adequate measures to protect sensitive information, strengthen cybersecurity, preserve records and ensure accountability.
The Federal Government official also emphasised that technology alone could not transform the civil service without adequately trained, motivated and professionally equipped personnel.
He called for sustained investment in capacity development, leadership training, change management and continuous improvement of administrative processes.
On workforce development, Lawal urged the commissions to uphold merit, fairness, transparency and due process in recruitment, promotion and disciplinary matters, stressing that strategic workforce planning was necessary to prepare public servants for emerging responsibilities.
He identified digital technology, data analysis, strategic planning, project management, communication, problem-solving and collaborative leadership as essential competencies for public servants in a modern administrative environment.
Addressing reputation management, he described institutional credibility as a valuable asset that determines public confidence, employee morale and stakeholder cooperation.
He maintained that the reputation of Civil Service Commissions should be built through credible recruitment exercises, transparent decisions, prompt handling of personnel matters, effective communication and fair treatment of stakeholders rather than publicity alone.
He warned that unexplained delays, perceived favouritism, inconsistent decisions, poor communication and weak accountability could erode public confidence in the institutions.
Lawal consequently called for stronger stakeholder engagement, effective complaint-handling mechanisms, ethical leadership and professional communication standards to strengthen public trust.
He also stressed the importance of cooperation between the Federal and State Civil Service Commissions, noting that their shared responsibilities in promoting professionalism, merit, administrative efficiency and workforce development required stronger collaboration.
Describing the National Council as an important platform for exchanging ideas and sharing experiences, he urged participants to translate the outcome of their deliberations into practical and sustainable reforms.
He said the success of the meeting should not be measured by speeches and resolutions alone but by the relevance, practicality and implementation of its recommendations.
In his welcome address, the Permanent Secretary of the Delta State Civil Service Commission, Mr Fredrick Yoro, also called for urgent institutional reforms, improved accountability and a change in work culture to reposition Nigeria's public service for greater efficiency and improved service delivery.
Yoro described the meeting as an important opportunity for stakeholders to examine emerging challenges confronting the civil service and develop innovative strategies for strengthening public administration.
He expressed appreciation to the National Council for selecting Delta State to host the annual meeting and assured delegates of the state's hospitality, expressing confidence that the deliberations would produce meaningful recommendations for the development of the nation's civil service.
He observed that the Nigerian public service had continued to face criticism over bureaucratic bottlenecks, weak accountability, poor service delivery and declining employee performance, stressing that these challenges had made comprehensive reforms increasingly necessary.
According to him, institutional re-engineering, reputation management and cultural change were critical to transforming the civil service into a merit-driven, professional and results-oriented institution.
He advocated the replacement of outdated administrative structures with modern management systems, technologies and operational frameworks capable of improving efficiency and effectiveness.
On reputation management, Yoro noted that rebuilding public confidence would require addressing concerns about corruption, limited institutional capacity and poor responsiveness.
He further stressed the need for a positive change in individual attitudes and institutional values to establish a work environment anchored on professionalism, integrity, accountability and commitment to public service.
The Delta State Permanent Secretary maintained that building a future-ready civil service required collective leadership, strong institutional commitment, political will, professional competence and sustained investment in human and technological resources.
He expressed optimism that the presentations and discussions at the Council would generate actionable recommendations capable of strengthening civil service institutions across the country.
Yoro disclosed that the Council meeting would be preceded by a two-day technical session for the presentation of memoranda, which would commence immediately after a courtesy visit to the Governor of Delta State.
The 45th Annual National Council of Civil Service Commissions has attracted prominent stakeholders, including the Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission, Professor Tunji Olaopa; Chairman of the Delta State Civil Service Commission, Chief Roseline Amioku; federal and state civil service commissioners; as well as chairmen of Civil Service Commissions from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The meeting is expected to produce far-reaching recommendations aimed at strengthening institutional capacity, promoting professionalism, embracing technological innovation and repositioning Nigeria's civil service to respond effectively to the evolving demands of modern governance.
