President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of five new permanent secretaries to fill vacant positions in the Federal Civil Service.
The decision came after a process overseen by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF).
The announcement was issued in Abuja on Monday by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Didi Walson-Jack, in a statement released through the Director of Information and Public Relations, Mrs Eno Olotu.
The newly appointed permanent secretaries are Ibrahim Ozi for the Federal Capital Territory, Ezemama Chidiebere representing Imo State, Garba Usman for the North Central zone, Mohammed Ishiyaku for the Northeast zone, and Ukaire Chigbowu for the Southeast zone.
Walson-Jack explained that the appointments came after a comprehensive assessment process aimed at promoting professionalism, transparency, and excellence in the civil service.
She added that the exercise aligns with President Tinubu’s commitment to building a performance-driven public sector anchored on the principles of accountability and efficiency under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
She explained that the process began in September 2025, when the OHCSF initiated the procedure to fill five vacant positions arising from retirements and the creation of new ministries representing the North Central, North East, and South East geopolitical zones.
The call for applications was open to eligible civil servants on Grade Level 17, with at least two years in that rank, free of disciplinary cases, and duly cleared by their permanent secretaries.
In a move widely praised by public sector observers, the OHCSF introduced a multi-layered screening procedure that included written examinations, ICT proficiency tests, oral interviews, and comprehensive security and integrity checks conducted by the ICPC, EFCC, and Department of State Services (DSS).
This rigorous exercise, Walson-Jack noted, was aimed at identifying career civil servants who embody the values of competence, integrity, and dedication that are essential to delivering on the administration’s reform objectives.
“The new Permanent Secretaries are expected to deploy their wealth of experience and expertise in driving the government’s reform agenda and ensuring the highest standards of performance in the public sector,” Walson-Jack said.
She further charged them to demonstrate leadership, accountability, and innovation in their respective ministries to strengthen governance and improve service delivery.
The Head of Service also commended President Tinubu for his unwavering commitment to meritocracy and professionalism in public administration.
She described the appointments as a testament to his belief in building a capable and motivated civil service that serves as the engine of national development.
This latest round of appointments follows similar actions by the president in June 2024, when eight new Permanent Secretaries were appointed to replace retiring officials.
The appointments, part of an ongoing restructuring of the top echelon of the federal bureaucracy, reflect Tinubu’s broader agenda to reform the civil service and make it more efficient, transparent, and accountable.
