FG launches personnel audit and skills gap review to boost efficiency and eliminate ghost workers
By Dr. Nafisat Makinde
Nigeria’s Civil Service is set for a digital makeover. The Federal Government has inaugurated two specialized committees to conduct a comprehensive personnel audit and skills gap analysis, aimed at eliminating ghost workers, identifying critical skill shortages, and modernizing workforce management across federal ministries and agencies.
The inauguration, held in Abuja, was led by Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF), Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, who announced the Steering Committee and Project Implementation Committee. She stressed that the initiative aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and seeks to build a fit-for-purpose, professional Civil Service.
The audit will create a verified digital personnel database linked to NIN and BVN, determining the true size, structure, and skills composition of the workforce. It will also pinpoint gaps in ICT, project management, public finance, and data analysis, strengthen training programs, and enhance human resource management through digital systems, while blocking redundancies and leakages.
The Steering Committee, chaired by Mrs. Walson-Jack, will provide policy direction and ensure alignment with the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan 2021–2025. The Project Implementation Committee, led by Dr. Danjuma Usman Kalba, will manage methodology validation, data collection, compliance, and reporting. Both committees are mandated to execute their work with professionalism, diligence, and integrity.
Mrs. Walson-Jack emphasized that the exercise is developmental, not punitive, aimed at building a modern, efficient, and citizen-centered Civil Service. The Steering Committee is expected to conclude within six months, and the Project Implementation Committee in four months, laying the foundation for a more accountable and productive workforce.
