On Saturday night, President Bola Tinubu read the riot act to federal government personnel who had relocated overseas but were still receiving pay. He stated that these employees would have to repay the money they got, and department leaders would face sanctions for supporting such activity.
The president issued the orders during the annual “Awards and Gala Night” to commemorate this year’s Civil Service Week in Abuja.
Folasade Yemi-Esan, the Federation’s Head of Civil Service, made the announcement during a media event commemorating Civil Service Week.
“During my recent visit to South Africa, I kept abreast of the week’s activities and was particularly struck by the revelations shared by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation regarding employees who relocated abroad while drawing salaries without formally resigning,” the president said.
“It is heartening to hear that measures have been taken to address this issue, but we must ensure those responsible are held accountable and restitution is made,” he said.
“Culprits must be made to refund the money they have fraudulently collected. Their supervisors and department heads must also be punished for aiding and abetting the fraud under their watch.”
President Tinubu went on to say that the Nigerian Civil Service cannot simply be an environment where employees may do “anything and everything” and break the law without worrying about facing consequences or penalties.
“The civil service of any nation is too important for such misconduct to take root or be tolerated,” he said.
The president described the Civil Service as “the bedrock, the engine, the locomotive of government, which is necessary for the government to deliver public goods to citizens”, adding, “As politicians, we are no more than drivers of the locomotives that you provide.”
“Those who say that a nation is as good as its civil service are close to the truth. You are the real establishment that remains to pilot government affairs as we politicians come and go,” he said.
The president also praised the ongoing Leadership Enhancement and Development Programme (LEAD-P) initiative, which aims to develop the finest minds within the Federal Civil Service to close skills gaps in the public service industry.
He noted that the plan prioritises capacity building and talent management through well-structured training such as LEAD-P and SMAT-P.
This is in addition to structures put in place to promote a culture of innovation in the service.
President Tinubu commended Yemi-Esan for her efforts as Head of the Civil Service of the Federation in steering the reforms, which are aimed at creating a world-class service that upholds meritocracy and excellence.
“Ministers, Permanent Secretaries and Chief Executives, I urge swift implementation of these reforms within your respective ministries. Our commitment to delivering on the Renewed Hope Agenda demands urgency, without compromising due process,” he said.
“I am aware that due process must be followed in conducting government business, but that should not give room for any form of red tape or insistence on unnecessary bureaucracies.
“We have pledged to work for the Nigerian people, and it is critical that all civil servants, and indeed all public servants, recognise the key role they must play in the achievement of our national potential.”
The LEAD-P programme, developed under the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan 2021–2025, aims to identify, mentor, and train 500 future civil service leaders by 2025. It targets civil servants at grade levels 10–14 and is implemented through a partnership between the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation and the Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation. So far, over 200 officers have been trained and deployed to various government ministries, departments, and agencies. The participants undergo an eight-week internship in private-sector organisations to gain experience in efficient work processes, organisational values, ethics, innovation, and effective management styles.
Tinubu noted that successive governments had initiated various national development plans and programmes and all relied on the Civil Service to translate such plans into high-impact programmes and projects across all sectors of the nation’s economy, adding, “We look to you to continue this legacy under our administration.”
He also assured the audience of his administration’s steadfastness in its commitment to cultivating, empowering, and professionalising human capital within the Civil Service.
“It is imperative to foster a culture of excellence and instil confidence among our civil servants,” he said.
The president, while acknowledging the challenges the Civil Service faces, assured the audience that the government is “committed to ensuring the welfare and development of all civil servants to deliver optimal performance for the growth of our nation”.
The event marked the end of a weeklong programme for the 2024 annual Civil Service Week.