FG Flags Off Personnel Audit, Skills Gap Analysis In Civil Service

Chibuzor Emejor

The Federal Government through the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF), has begun personal audit and skills gap analysis in the Federal Civil Service.

Mrs. Didi Walson-Jack, Head of the Civil Service of the Federation(HCSF), stated this in Abuja, at the sensitisation programme for the Personnel Audit and Skills Gap Analysis(PASGA) project.

Walson-Jack, said over the years that the Federal Civil Service has been grappling with the challenge of fragmented and outdated personnel information, leading to inefficiencies and misalignments.

She said data remains the backbone of effective planning, deployment, and decision-making in the Civil Service.

Walson-Jack, represented by Dr. Deborah Odoh, Permanent Secretary,Service Policies and Strategies Office (SPSO),Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF), said through PASGA, that a new standard that is transparent, data-based, and performance-oriented is being set.

The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation assured that, “This reform will deliver accurate personnel records, identify existing skills gaps, and support targeted training and redeployment aligned with the evolving needs of government.”

Walson-Jack charged the OHCSF Cluster Consultant, Knewrow Consulting, to approach the national assignment with utmost professionalism, integrity, and technical precision, assuring that,”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.”

She further called on all Permanent Secretaries, Directors,Union leaders and all staff across MDAs to demonstrate ownership and extend full cooperation to the Committee.

According to her, “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.

“This exercise is a bold statement of our readiness to build a Civil Service that is data-driven, merit-based, and future-ready.

“Together, we can make the Nigerian Civil Service a model of efficiency, accountability, and innovation in public administration.”

In his welcome address, Kalba Danjuma Usman, Permanent Secretary, Common Services Office, OHCSF, said the Personnel Audit and Skill Gap Analysis (PASGA) Project, is a flagship reform initiative of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF),conceived to strengthen personnel data integrity, improve skills alignment, and drive evidence-based human resource decisions across the Federal Civil Service.

Usman said the occasion marked a significant step forward in the continuing journey to reposition the Service as an efficient, accountable, and digitally enabled institution.

He added that the PASGA Project aligns squarely with the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan 2025 (FCSSIP 25), particularly in the renewed commitment to digitisation, talent management, and organisational efficiency.

In his remarks, Mr. Ayo Murtala, the OHCSF Cluster Consultant, Knewrow Consulting, said the audit is “the beginning of a transformation journey that will help reshape the Federal Civil Service into a stronger, smarter, and more sustainable institution.”

Murtala said “it embodies rebirth, renewal, and the collective rise of the Federal Civil Service into a new era of excellence and accountability.”

According to him, “This Personnel Audit and Skills Gap Analysis is not just a verification exercise — it is a strategic reform instrument designed to help government truly understand the people who power the public service.

“It is about data, but beyond data, it is about identity, capability, and national performance.”