By Stella Odueme
The Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission, Professor Tunji Olaopa, has called for comprehensive reforms in Nigeria’s civil service to strengthen meritocracy, professionalism, institutional efficiency, and workforce productivity in line with global best practices.
Professor Olaopa made the call during the International Civil Service Conference 2026 held at Eagle Square, on Thursday in Abuja.
The conference featured a high-level panel discussion attended by chairmen of civil service commissions across the federation, including representatives from the Federal Capital Territory and Kano State, as well as delegates from 16 foreign countries.
Speaking on the mandate and evolution of the Commission, Olaopa explained that the Commission was first established in 1954 as the Public Service Commission before becoming the Civil Service Commission in 1979.
He noted that the Commission derives its constitutional powers to appoint, promote, and discipline civil servants while safeguarding merit and public service ethics.
According to him, the Commission historically played a key role in building Nigeria’s highly regarded civil service culture.
However, he lamented that years of politicisation, inadequate funding, mass retirements, weak institutional structures, and policy inconsistencies had eroded standards and weakened administrative efficiency.
The FCSC Chairman disclosed that the current leadership carried out an institutional assessment upon assumption of office, leading to the development of a strategic reform plan approved by the Federal Executive Council.
He said the reforms are designed to reposition the Commission as a modern, technology-driven, and professionally competent institution.
Highlighting achievements already recorded, Olaopa said the Commission had migrated from manual recruitment processes to a digital e-recruitment platform, introduced transparent computer-based promotion examinations, revived the National Council on Civil Service Commissions after more than 12 years of inactivity, and restored Nigeria’s participation in regional public service institutions, including the African Association for Public Service Commissions.
He stressed that merit and professionalism must remain central to recruitment, promotion, and career progression in the public service, adding that competence, qualification, integrity, and performance should guide human resource management without undermining the Federal Character principle.
Olaopa, however, identified weak institutional capacity, inadequate digital infrastructure, shortage of specialised manpower, and welfare concerns as major obstacles to sustainable reform efforts.
He warned that reforms that fail to address workers’ welfare and performance support systems could face resistance from civil servants.
He called for a balanced and human-centred performance management framework capable of improving productivity while supporting professional development, assuring that the Commission remains committed to building an efficient, accountable, innovative, and future-ready civil service.
The statement was issued by the Head of Press and Public Relations for the Commission, the statement was issued by Ibraheem Zakariyya,
