Walson-Jack: Personnel Audit to Deliver Credible National Workforce Profile for Evidence-Based Planning

 

Walson-Jack: Personnel Audit to Deliver Credible National Workforce Profile for Evidence-Based Planning

Abuja, Nigeria – The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, has announced that the ongoing Personnel Audit and Skills Gap Analysis will establish a credible national workforce profile and trusted database to drive evidence-based planning, targeted training, efficient postings, transparent promotions, and succession management across Nigeria’s civil service.

Speaking at the opening of a three-day retreat in Abuja, Walson-Jack described the audit as a national assignment and a foundational reform under the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan 2021–2025. She explained that the project will capture accurate headcounts, skills distribution, and demographic data, while the skills gap analysis will highlight areas requiring capacity building and targeted training for civil servants.

She stressed that the audit will eliminate ghost workers, strengthen data integrity, and ensure that records are harmonized across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs). According to her, this will save government resources, promote accountability, and enhance fairness in postings and promotions.

The retreat brought together stakeholders including cluster consultants, steering committee members, and implementation teams to harmonize strategies and finalize standardized frameworks for the nationwide rollout. Fifteen consulting clusters have been engaged to carry out the exercise, and Walson-Jack emphasized the importance of uniform methodologies to guarantee credibility.

She called on MDAs to fully cooperate by providing accurate records and allowing on-site verifications, while assuring that data protection standards will be strictly observed.

The Personnel Audit and Skills Gap Analysis is a key reform initiative designed to modernize the civil service, improve service delivery, and align workforce planning with national development goals. Findings from the audit will guide recruitment, redeployment, training, and succession planning, ensuring a more transparent and efficient Federal Civil Service that can meet Nigeria’s governance challenges.