Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF), Mrs. Didi Walson-Jack, revealed that the harmonisation of the salaries of Federal Civil Servants across Ministries, Departments and Agencies, has begun.
Walson-Jack stated this on Monday in Abuja at a media briefing to mark her 100th day in office. She said the National Wages, Income, and Salaries Commission and the Presidential Committee on Salaries are working assiduously to harmonise the Salaries of Federal Civil Servants.
Walson, a member of the Presidential Committee on Salaries, assured that all issues regarding the harmonisation of salaries of Federal Civil Servants would be resolved.
Fielding questions from newsmen about the Presidential directive on civil servants who have relocated abroad and are still receiving salaries in Nigeria, the Head of the Civil Service said verification has been carried out.
She revealed that some affected civil servants had quickly returned to Nigeria, while others resigned from their appointments following the discovery.
According to her, “We will continue to sustain the momentum. We are scrutinising the IPPIS HR payroll to see who is here and who is out.
“It will be a continuous process to ensure that people are not having their cake and eating it.
“I dare to say that some progress has been made. We will keep watching to ensure they are completely dealt with.”
Walson-Jack, who used the media briefing to highlight her achievements within 100 days in office, vowed to ensure an efficient, productive, incorruptible, and citizen-centred Civil Service.
While acknowledging that corruption is an endemic issue in the Federal Civil Service, she pointed out that she has zero tolerance for corruption.
“Corruption is an issue for everyone. We have zero tolerance for corruption. We will work to reduce corruption, even eradicate it,” she assured.
Speaking about her 100 days in Office, Walson-Jack said it was a significant milestone, as it offered
“an opportunity to reflect on the achievements recorded, perform a thorough audit of progress, and identify the goals ahead.”
She said, “Today’s event is not just about celebrating milestones but also about fostering transparency, sharing our vision for the future, and ensuring that every Nigerian understands the importance of the reforms we are undertaking in the Federal Civil Service.
“Since assuming office on 14 August 2024, my commitment has been clear: to fast-track, accelerate, and sustain the reforms outlined in the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan 2021–2025 (FCSSIP 25).
“This strategy is the blueprint for transforming the Civil Service into a professional, efficient, and globally competitive institution.
“To this end, we set up and inaugurated seven “war rooms,” each dedicated to overseeing one of the six pillars of the FCSSIP reforms and the enablers.
“These war rooms ensure that no initiative is neglected and that progress is measurable and impactful.”
According to her, some of the achievements recorded include the publication and dissemination of the Federal Civil Service Anthem and the Culture Change Video; her meeting with the United Kingdom’s Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Civil Service, Rt. Hon. Simon Case, which opened avenues for collaboration, including capacity building and the exchange of best practices that will strengthen the Federal Civil Service.
Other achievements include organising retreats with the top management staff of the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation and a broader retreat with Permanent Secretaries across the Service and launching the Performance Management System Day in Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to reinforce accountability and encourage a result-orientated culture.
She continued, “As part of our efforts to modernise the Civil Service, we launched the Nigeria Federal Civil Service Online Academy, an e-learning platform designed to empower Civil Servants with the knowledge and skills needed for their roles.
“Alongside this, the Service Wise GPT—a digital repository of information about the Civil Service—has been developed to serve as a vital resource for seasoned officers and new entrants.
“To enhance communication and efficiency, we have launched GovMail, an official email platform for all Civil Servants.
“This initiative will streamline workflows and improve the overall effectiveness of our operations. We have also launched the Online Compendium of Circulars, a service-wide circular portal designed to make Circulars easily accessible to every Civil Servant.
“These developments align with the commitments made on my assumption of office to ensure that technology drives the repositioning of the Civil Service for greater service delivery.”