The federal government, on Thursday flagged off the sensitisation activities for the commencement of the Personnel Audit and Skill Gap Analysis (PASGA) project, that targets a more efficient service delivery in the Federal Civil Service.
Esther Walson-Jack, Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF), speaking at the official commencement of the flagship reform initiative, called for cooperation from all Permanent Secretaries, Directors, the Union leaders and all staff across MDAs, by demonstrating ownership of the program.
It will be recalled that over the years, the Federal Civil Service had grappled with the challenge of fragmented and outdated personnel information, leading to inefficiencies and misalignments, and in some instances fuelling corruption in the system.
She noted however, that the reform initiative is designed to strengthen personnel data integrity, align competencies with organisational needs, and drive evidence-based human resource management across the Federal Civil Service.
“Today’s event represents yet another major milestone in our collective journey to reposition the Civil Service as an efficient, accountable, and digitally driven institution.
“The PASGA Project is a strategic component of the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan 2021–2025 (FCSSIP25), reflecting our unwavering commitment to innovation, talent optimisation, and institutional excellence, in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR’s Renewed Hope Agenda.”
Watson-Jack while reflecting on the needs, said “data remains the backbone of effective planning, deployment, and decision-making.
“Through PASGA, we are setting a new standard—one that is transparent, data-based, and performance-oriented.”
She assured that the “reform will deliver accurate personnel records, identify existing skills gaps, and support targeted training and redeployment aligned with the evolving needs of government.
She commended the Permanent Secretary, Common Services Office (CSO), and the Project Implementation Committee (PIC) for the painstaking coordination and preparatory work that have brought us to this stage.
“Your dedication exemplifies the teamwork and shared vision required to sustain the ongoing transformation of our Civil Service.
“Distinguished Civil Servants, this exercise is a bold statement of our readiness to build a Civil Service that is data-driven, merit-based, and future-ready”
She therefore, called on the OHCSF Cluster Consultant, Knewrow Consulting, to approach this national assignment with utmost professionalism, integrity, and technical precision.
“The Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) shall remain your primary reference point as this exercise unfolds Service-wide.
“PASGA is not merely an audit—it is a reform tool that will shape the future of our workforce by ensuring that placements, promotions, and performance management are grounded in reliable data and merit.”
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Danjuma Usman, Permanent Secretary, Common Services, in his welcome address at the sensitisation event, charged the civil servant to cooperate with the relevant bodies to guarantee its success
“Distinguished colleagues, PASGA is more than an audit, it is a reform tool and a statement of our readiness to build a Service that is data-driven, merit-based, and performance-oriented.
“Together, we can ensure that the Federal Civil Service remains a model of efficiency, accountability, and innovation in public administration.”
