• 03 Jul, 2025
• Faith Kegh
• No comment

FCSC Launches Reforms to Eliminate Nepotism and Reinstate Merit in Federal Recruitment.

The Federal Civil Service Commissio

n (FCSC) has introduced a strategic plan aimed at overhauling Nigeria’s civil service. The new blueprint is focused on restoring merit-based recruitment, promoting performance, and aligning public sector employment with national economic objectives.

The plan was developed during a three-day retreat in Abuja and is seen as a major shift to reposition the Commission as a key player in public service reform. It follows President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive in December 2023, urging the FCSC to lead reforms that would digitalize and reorient the civil service in support of private-sector-driven growth under his Renewed Hope Agenda.

FCSC Chairman, Professor Tunji Olaopa, described the reforms as a critical shift away from a history of inefficiency and favoritism. According to him, an internal review found that the civil service was not necessarily overstaffed in numbers but was hampered by a poor match between staff skills and job requirements. He pointed out that appointments had often been politically influenced and that the recruitment system had lost its foundation in merit.

The retreat, supported by the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office under the PACE (Partnership for Agile Governance and Climate Engagement) initiative, brought together experts including Dr. Otive Igbuzor, Prof. Bamidele Olowu, Dr. Bert Odiaka, and Dr. Egem Odey. They worked alongside the FCSC’s internal Strategy Development Team to shape a new vision, mission, and set of values for the Commission.

A key aspect of the reform is the creation of a transparent, competitive, and digitally driven recruitment process to attract top talent and rebuild public trust. The strategy also aims to address shortcomings in performance management, ethical standards, and the lack of a structured reward system.

The proposed changes include a performance-based secretariat, promotions linked to results, and better frameworks for stakeholder engagement and collaboration. Global best practices from countries like the U.S., U.K., South Africa, Canada, and Kenya, as well as insights from organizations such as the Central Bank of Nigeria and PwC, were used for benchmarking.

Professor Olaopa noted that some elements of the reform strategy are already being applied in the Commission’s current recruitment process, which he described as the most transparent to date. The process involves online applications, a screening stage, and upcoming computer-based testing aligned with applicants’ qualifications. Final selections will be made based on merit while adhering to the federal character principle.

He emphasized that the reform plan is more than just a policy document—it is an actionable framework aimed at transforming the civil service into a driver of national development.

The Commission is set to finalize and adopt the draft strategy, which will guide its operations from 2025 to 2029. The long-term goal is to help Nigeria achieve its target of becoming a \$1 trillion economy by 2030.

Faith Kegh

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