As the new Head of Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF), Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack was appointed and sworn in by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Federal Executive Council meeting on Tuesday, she took over the mantle of leadership officially from Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan.
Dr. Yemi-Esan retirement was due on Tuesday hence the handing over ceremony which took place at the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) in Abuja.
Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, in her acceptance speech thanked God Almighty for seeing her through to the pinnacle of her career.
She also appreciated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approving her appointment,promising not to betray the trust and confidence reposed in her to serve the federation.
She promised to sustain the achievements of her predecessors by continuing and fast tracking the ongoing reform initiatives in the Service.
The newly sworn in HoCSF also promised to explore ICT maximally in driving transformation in the Service, upholding core principles of the Service – Accountability, Meritocracy, Professionalism, Loyalty and Efficiency (AMPLE).
She, therefore, sought the support of all stakeholders and civil servants to achieve the vision and mission of the Service toward the realisation of the Renewed Hope Agenda of the present Administration.
The retired HoCSF, Yemi-Esan, in her farewell message, prayed God to sustain her successor and give her the necessary strength and wisdom to excel to the benefit of the Service and the federation in general.
Mrs. Walson-Jack holds a Bachelor of Law degree from the University of Lagos and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1987.
She started her Civil Service career as a State Counsel in Rivers State in 1992, rising to the position of Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice in Bayelsa State.
Mrs. Walson-Jack joithe Federal Civil Service in 2009 and was appointed as Permanent Secretary in 2017.
She served in several MDAs, including the OHCSF, Niger Delta Affairs, Power, Water Resources and Sanitation Ministries and, lately, Education.
During her tour of duty at the OHCSF, as the Permanent Secretary, Service Welfare Office (SWO), she is credited with initiatives such as the creation of the Federal Integrated Staff Housing (FISH) programme and immense contributions to labour relations and the national minimum wage.
The new HCSF is a recipient of the National Honour of the Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) and an alumna of the prestigious National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru.
Her wealth of experience and dedication to the Service and country, at large, are testimonies to her numerous roles and achievements.
She is the author of the novel, ‘Roses in the Thorns’ and is happily married with children.
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