The Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC), Prof. Tunji Olaopa, and the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF), Mrs. Esther Didi Walson-Jack, on Thursday took a significant step to deepen collaboration in their leadership of the civil service by inaugurating a joint technical committee in Abuja.
The committee is a joint initiative of the FCSC and the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF), aimed at harmonising positions on issues of common concern and strengthening the civil service through optimal leadership.
The inauguration followed the maiden OHCSF–FCSC Joint Retreat held on October 13, 2025, where key issues of mutual interest were identified.
Olaopa noted that the retreat provided an opportunity to agree “that a joint technical team be constituted to examine and address critical issues and technical design elements requiring rigorous research and nuanced analysis, so that a well-thought-out baseline report can be generated.” He explained that the report would serve as a foundation for future periodic engagements, enabling incremental improvements and sustained dialogue to resolve strained functional boundaries between the two offices. This, he said, would ultimately foster a seamless working relationship and institutional partnership in delivering their shared responsibilities, including leadership provision, competency-based human resource management, career development, and the consolidation of their gatekeeping role in Nigeria’s public administration.
According to him, while the FCSC and OHCSF are distinct in structure and establishment, they remain “two sides of the same coin.” He stressed that a deep understanding of civil service governance is required to fully appreciate the complementarity of their roles as central management and personnel agencies, as well as custodians of public administration practice in Nigeria.
Olaopa further observed that when the reconstituted FCSC—otherwise known as the 10th Commission—assumed office in December 2023, it encountered “an unhealthy rivalry, needless boundary protection, and, in some cases, subtle attempts by each party to encroach on the clearly defined statutory functions of the other.”
He also revealed that the Public Service Rules (PSR), the administrative governance code for Nigeria’s public administration, had been selectively amended without adequate input from key stakeholders. This, he said, created distortions that undermined the internal management controls and checks and balances that have sustained the civil service since the colonial era.
However, he acknowledged a positive shift with the emergence of Walson-Jack as HCSF, noting that she created room for collaboration between the OHCSF and the FCSC to address the identified challenges.
“It became evident to both institutions that merely glossing over areas of misalignment would fall short of genuine reform. Consequently, we agreed on the need for a regular platform for sustained engagement and dialogue, built on mutual understanding, shared commitment, and a structured framework for cross-fertilisation of ideas toward a more harmonious working relationship,” Olaopa said.
He added that both institutions had jointly aligned resources to implement the OHCSF Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan (FCSSIP) 2021–2025, which has recently concluded and is set for relaunch, alongside the FCSC Strategic Plan (2026–2030).
While congratulating members of the joint technical committee, Olaopa emphasised that their selection was based on merit, particularly their professional expertise and experience. He expressed confidence that they would deliver robust, innovative, practical, and timely outcomes in the best interest of the civil service.
In her remarks, Walson-Jack described Olaopa as a dependable ally in civil service development and noted that the inauguration marked a milestone in strengthening the service.
She stated that the committee, as a direct outcome of the retreat, underscores the importance of collaboration between her office and the FCSC. She added that the committee’s work would translate insights into actionable outcomes, ensuring that resolutions are not only documented but effectively implemented.
Walson-Jack further noted that the committee’s efforts would contribute to building an efficient civil service capable of driving national development in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.
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