Folasade Yemi-Esan, Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HOCSF), says Nigeria’s transformative civil service processes have made the sector worthy of emulation by other nations.

Mrs Yemi-Esan stated this at a special Juma’at prayer, which was part of the activities to mark 2024 Civil Service Week.

The week is with the theme, “Educate an African fit for the 21st century: Building resilient systems for increased access to inclusive, lifelong, quality and relevant learning in Africa”.

Represented by Dr Sani Gwarzo, permanent secretary, ministry of police affairs, Mrs Yemi-Esan said the ongoing reform was a reality which would transform the service to a different standard from what it used to be.

“The reform is the reality, believe me, if you come to see the civil service of today as it is, it’s totally different from civil service that you knew before and the trajectory is upward and the speed in which we are moving is a phenomenal.

“I believe that very soon Nigerians will see a civil service that is not only transformative but is worthy of emulation by any civil service in the world,” she remarked.

According to her, the civil service has undertaken the bold steps toward reformation and has reached a critical stage in the reform processes.

“This is the right time to celebrate the success so far recorded as it has realigned with the renewed hope agenda of President Bola Tinubu.

“The African civil service day is also celebrated around the same time, we have harmonised our theme not only relevant to Nigeria but also aligned with the global efforts being made by civil servants all over the world and in Africa  particular.

“The civil service is reforming and whatever Mr president is trying to achieve with the renewed hope agenda, we are ready to support him in that direction,” she said.

Also, Prof. Ibrahim Maqari, chief imam of the National Mosque Abuja, commended the civil servants and the government in their efforts to reposition the sector to meet global standards.

Mr Maqari said the nation’s civil service sector had contributed immensely to the country’s present stage; hence, its transformation had influenced the greater part of nation-building.

“Civil service is an integral part of nation-building without whom Nigeria would not be what it is today.

“So our role as Muslims Umar in Nigeria is to do whatever we can’t to support the Nigerian civil servants in delivering their responsibilities.

“We remained prayerful that Allah continues to guide our leaders to help them in all the transformational agenda they have in transforming the civil service to become a better civil service to Nigeria and for the whole world at large, ” Mr Maqari prayed.

The ‘Civil Service Week’ is celebrated yearly in Nigeria in compliance with the 1999 Tangier Declaration by African Ministers for Public Service, which is set aside every June 23 as African Public Service Day (APSD).

This is to recognise the values and virtues of the service to the community.

(NAN)