The Acting Head of Service in the Federal Capital Territory this week announced an ambitious programme of reforms designed to modernise the federal civil service, improve service delivery and restore public confidence in government institutions.
Speaking at a press briefing in the capital, the acting head outlined a multipart reform agenda that he said will focus on three immediate priorities: digitally-powered personnel management, merit-driven promotion policies and a crackdown on ghost workers. “Our aim is to make the civil service efficient, accountable and responsive to citizens’ needs,” he said, adding that the reforms will be rolled out in phases to allow for training and adjustment.
The reforms will introduce an integrated human resource information system to centralise staff records, pay-roll management and pension contributions. Officials say the digitisation drive will reduce leakages in salary disbursement, speed up promotions and allow for real-time monitoring of staff deployment across ministries and agencies. A team from the Office of the Head of Service is already conducting a pilot programme within selected ministries to test the new software and systems before a wider national rollout.
In addition to technology upgrades, the acting head emphasised a recommitment to meritocracy. New measures will strengthen performance appraisals and tie promotion decisions to demonstrable outputs rather than tenure alone. He outlined plans for independent panels to review senior-level appointments and for refreshed training curricula to align civil servants’ skills with modern governance needs.
Pension administration also features prominently in the reform package. The acting head warned that long-standing pension bottlenecks will be prioritised for immediate resolution, promising a special taskforce to verify pension records and clear outstanding entitlements, particularly for retirees who have waited for years.
Civil service unions and some reform-minded groups welcomed the announcement but urged the government to consult widely and protect workers’ rights during the transition. Union representatives also demanded guarantees that digitisation will not be used as a pretext for mass retrenchment. “Modernisation must be humane and inclusive,” a union official said.
The acting head said that, while there will be difficult choices, the reforms are necessary to restore integrity and functionality to the public service. He appealed for patience from citizens and staff alike, promising regular public updates on progress and an open complaints channel for civil servants and members of the public to report abuses or delays.
