*Photo: Mrs Didi Easter Walson-Jack, Head of the Civil Service of the Federation(middle) at a press conference on Wednesday *
Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Didi Easter Walson-Jack has unfolded program of events for the commemoration of the 2025 African Civil Service Day and the Nigerian Civil Service Week.
She did that on Wednesday at a press briefing in Abuja.
She said “… the Federal and State Civil Services will commemorate the African Public Service Day and the Nigerian Civil Service Week, from Friday, 20th to Saturday, 28th June 2025. In the same week, a historic inaugural International Civil Service Conference will be held in Abuja, Nigeria, from 25th to 26th June 2025.”
Mrs Walson-Jack pointed out that “These events represent a defining moment in our ongoing journey to reposition the Nigerian Civil Service as a 21st-century engine for national development, regional and international leadership.”
She recalled that ” … African Public Service Day was adopted at the 1994 Pan-African Conference of Ministers in Tangier, Morocco,” adding that “It is celebrated across the continent on the 23rd of June to honour public service values, promote professional excellence, and showcase public sector innovation.”
The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation stressed that ” In alignment with Agenda 2063 of the African Union, Nigeria commemorates this day with a week-long series of events to celebrate achievements and stimulate forward-looking policy dialogue. This year, we are incorporating the African Public Service Day into our Civil Service Week and taking the celebration to new heights.”
Read the full text of her address below:
OFFICE OF THE HEAD OF THE CIVIL SERVICE OF THE FEDERATION
PRESS BRIEFING BY THE HEAD OF THE CIVIL SERVICE OF THE FEDERATION, MRS. DIDI ESTHER WALSON-JACK, OON, mni, ON THE COMMEMORATION OF THE 2025 AFRICAN PUBLIC SERVICE DAY
AND THE CIVIL SERVICE WEEK.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, 11TH JUNE 2025.
VENUE: ABUJA, NIGERIA
PROTOCOL
Good morning, transformative Permanent Secretaries, Directors, distinguished ladies and gentlemen of the press, esteemed stakeholders, development partners, and friends of the public service.
2.Thank you for joining us today for this critical announcement about activities commemorating the African Civil Service Day and the Nigerian Civil Service Week. Before proceeding, on behalf of the Federal Civil Service, I would like to sincerely appreciate your presence and your role in keeping the public informed about the Nigerian Civil Service. Your coverage helps ensure transparency and clarity regarding matters we must address from time to time.
African Public Service Day: A Continental Legacy
3.As you may know, African Public Service Day was adopted at the 1994 Pan-African Conference of Ministers in Tangier, Morocco. It is celebrated across the continent on the 23rd of June to honour public service values, promote professional excellence, and showcase public sector innovation. In alignment with Agenda 2063 of the African Union, Nigeria commemorates this day with a week-long series of events to celebrate achievements and stimulate forward-looking policy dialogue. This year, we are incorporating the African Public Service Day into our Civil Service Week and taking the celebration to new heights.
4. It is my honour and privilege to announce that the Federal and State Civil Services will commemorate the African Public Service Day and the Nigerian Civil Service Week, from Friday, 20th to Saturday, 28th June 2025. In the same week, a historic inaugural International Civil Service Conference will be held in Abuja, Nigeria, from 25th to 26th June 2025. These events represent a defining moment in our ongoing journey to reposition the Nigerian Civil Service as a 21st-century engine for national development, regional and international leadership. Your participation in these events is appreciated and crucial to their success and the advancement of our shared goals. You are an integral part of this journey.
Overview of the 2025 Civil Service Week
5.The 2025 Civil Service Week, a significant event in our calendar, will feature a series of spiritually enriching, intellectually engaging, and socially rewarding events designed to celebrate excellence in public service, reflect on reforms, and promote a unified vision for a stronger Civil Service.
6.The programme line-up includes the commissioning of the remodelled Reception for the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, a Special Juma’at Prayer at the National Mosque, a Thanksgiving Service at the Family Worship Centre, Wuye, and a Study Tour of the Federal Civil Service and Abuja by State’s Heads of Civil Service. A Welcome Cocktail for ICSC Speakers, Wellness Activities, and a Social Get-together for Civil Servants are some of the other activities. The meat of the Week would be the two-day International Civil Service Conference (ICSC). The week would be rounded off with a Rewards and Recognition Awards Ceremony.
7.The Study Tour for the State’s Heads of Service will provide a valuable platform to exchange reform ideas and share innovative strategies, thereby deepening federal-state collaboration in advancing the quality and integrity of public administration.
Introducing the ICSC: “Rejuvenate, Innovate & Accelerate!”
8.The centrepiece of this year’s celebration is the International Civil Service Conference. This transformative event, themed “Rejuvenate, Innovate & Accelerate!”, will convene public service leaders, reformers, and stakeholders from across Africa and the world to share insights, promote innovation, and build stronger governance systems. It is a platform for change and progress.
9.The ICSC will welcome delegates with a Cocktail party on Tuesday evening, June 24th. His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, will declare the Conference open on Wednesday, June 25th, 2025, at Eagle Square, Abuja. A total of 5,000 delegates and participants are expected at the Conference.
10.Key features of the ICSC include:
• Keynote presentations by renowned international and local reformers
• Strategic panel discussions and interactive roundtables
• Dedicated stage for Young Public Servants
• Special recognition of all former Heads of the Civil Service of the Federation
• MOU Signing Ceremony
• Exhibitions from over 100 public and private organisations
• Participation of State Heads of Service, Senior Civil Servants, thought leaders, development partners, and captains of industry.
11.Confirmed speakers for the ICSC include a diverse group of speakers from the United Kingdom, Azerbaijan, Singapore, Ghana, Nigeria and others.
12.The ICSC will serve as a premier platform for:
• Cross-border knowledge exchange on reform practices
• Digital transformation and the adoption of innovative technologies in governance
• Public-Private engagements and partnerships
• Institutional collaboration across national and continental boundaries
• Citizen-centred service delivery and performance-driven
leadership
Strategic Alignment and Reform Priorities
13.Hosting the ICSC directly expresses Nigeria’s commitment to the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan (FCSSIP25), with its core pillars of Capability Building, Performance Management, and Digitalisation. It also aligns with key provisions of the 2021 Public Service Rules.
14.By hosting this Conference, Nigeria reaffirms its leadership in shaping Africa’s accountable, innovative, and citizen-responsive public service ecosystem.
Appreciation of Partners and Sponsors
15.We are immensely grateful to our sponsors and partners for their unwavering support in making the 2025 Civil Service Week and ICSC a reality. Their shared commitment to excellence in public service has been instrumental to the success of our work in the Federal Civil Service and the forthcoming Conference. We also acknowledge the crucial role of the media in disseminating information about these events and promoting the values of public service.
16.Special thanks to:
• Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation
• Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF)
• Nigeria Police Trust Fund
• Setraco Nigeria Limited
• Nigeria Export-Import Bank (NEXIM)
• Galaxy Backbone
• 1 Government Cloud Infrastructure
• Access ARM Pension
• Bank of Industry (BOI)
• etranzact
• Nigerian Television Authority (NTA)
• Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN)
A Call to Action
17.I extend a warm and open invitation to all civil servants, development partners, private sector actors, academia, and the media to participate actively in this momentous celebration. Let us use this opportunity to learn, collaborate, recognise excellence, and re-commit to the ideals of public service that place the citizen at the centre.
18.To our valued private sector partners: I extend a special invitation to join us as sponsors of the International Civil Service Conference 2025. This is an unparalleled opportunity to engage directly with the highest levels of government, including Permanent Secretaries, Directors, Chief Executive Officers of Agencies, and the Heads of Service from all 36 states and the FCT. We have structured a range of sponsorship packages—Diamond, Gold Knowledge, Silver Roundtable, and Bronze Exhibition—to offer value at every level. From delivering keynote addresses and hosting roundtable sessions to having your brand showcased across national media, delegate kits, and exhibition platforms, each package is tailored to ensure your visibility, influence, and strategic alignment with public sector reform. I urge you to secure your slot early, as spaces are limited. All confirmed sponsors will be prominently featured in the run-up to the conference. Kindly visit https://icsc.ohcsf.gov.ng to register and take your place at the forefront of this historic event.
19.I also take this moment to express the heartfelt appreciation of the Civil Service to His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for his continued support for the ongoing implementation of far-reaching reforms in the Federal Civil Service. We are also grateful for Mr. President’s acceptance of the invitation to attend and declare the International Civil Service Conference open, and for committing to attend the Rewards and Recognition Awards Ceremony.
20.Thank you for your attention, partnership, and support in building a world-class Nigerian Civil Service. May God bless you all, and may God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, OON, mni
Head of the Civil Service of the Federation
Wednesday, 11 June 2025.