Nigerian Government Establishes ‘War Rooms’ To Accelerate Civil Service Reform

The Nigerian government, through the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF), has taken a significant step towards speeding up the implementation of the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan 2021-2025 (FCSSIP-25).

The initiative calls for the creation of “War Rooms” for each of the planned six pillars and enablers.

Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, the Head of the Federation’s Civil Service (HCSF), spearheaded the launch of these War Rooms, emphasising the critical need to accelerate the reform process as the plan’s 2025 deadline approaches.

“As we approach the expiration of FCSSIP-25, it is critical to accelerate the implementation of these reform initiatives to ensure we meet our targets,” she emphasised.

The War Rooms were strategically designed to:

• Provide a platform for devoted and focused attention to each of the six pillars.
• Drive results by facilitating the timely, accurate, and coordinated implementation of sub-initiatives through strategic activities and programs.
• Enable progress by tracking progress, identifying areas for improvement, and making informed decisions to drive civil service transformation.

The six pillars of the FCSSIP-25 seek to deliver significant improvements across the civil service, including:

• Improved staff competencies and skills.
• Increased productivity and HR administration
• A performance-based, meritocratic environment
• Highly motivated officers
• An innovative, value-driven, and digitally transformed civil service.

The HCSF emphasised the importance of collaborative efforts during the implementation process, stating, “These War Rooms will serve as strategy and solution centres, allowing urgent attention to be paid to each pillar of the FCSSIP-25.”

Key stakeholders have enthusiastically supported the initiative, including Permanent Secretaries who will lead the teams, agency heads, and development partners. Dr. Deborah Bako Odoh, Permanent Secretary of the Service Policies and Strategies Office (SPSO), emphasised how the War Room initiative aligns with the vision of a world-class civil service that contributes to national development.

With a clear focus on meeting the 2025 targets, the War Rooms have a defined set of Terms of Reference:

Ascertain progress: Monitor current progress towards the 2025 goals.
Adopt revised KPIs: Be consistent with the revised Key Performance Indicators agreed upon at the September 2024 retreat.

Identify critical interventions: Identify the key actions required to accelerate the implementation of reform initiatives.

Mobilise resources: Secure the resources required to achieve the goals.

This bold initiative demonstrates the Nigerian government’s commitment to transforming the civil service into a model of excellence, thereby contributing to the country’s overall development.