# Nigerian Civil Service

The Nigerian Civil Service consists of employees in Nigerian government agencies other than the military and police. Most employees are career civil servants in the Nigerian ministries, progressing based on qualifications and seniority. Recently the head of the service has been introducing measures to make the ministries more efficient and responsive to the public.

## History

The word "civil"" is derived from an old French word "civil", which means "relating to law", and directly from Latin word "civilis", which means "relating to citizen", while the word "service" is derived from an old French word "servise", which means "aids". The Nigerian Civil Service has its origins in organizations established by the British in colonial times. Nigeria gained full independence in October 1960 under a constitution that provided for a parliamentary government and a substantial measure of self-government for the country's three regions. Since then, various panels have studied and made recommendations for reforming of the Civil Service, including the Margan Commission of 1963, the Adebo Commission of 1971 and the Udoji Commission of 1972–74.
A major change occurred with the 1979 adoption of a constitution modeled on that of the United States. The Dotun Philips Panel of 1985 attempted to reform the Civil Service. The 1988 Civil Service Reorganization Decree promulgated by General Ibrahim Babangida had a major impact on the structure and efficiency of the Civil Service. The later report of the Ayida Panel made recommendations to reverse some of the past innovations and to return to the more efficient Civil Service of earlier years. The Civil Service has been undergoing gradual and systematic reforms and restructuring since May 29, 1999 after decades of military rule. However, the civil service is still considered stagnant and inefficient, and the attempts made in the past by panels have had little effect.
In August 2009 the Head of the Civil Service, Stephen Osagiede Oronsaye, proposed reforms where permanent secretaries and directors would spend a maximum of eight years in office. The reform, approved by President Umaru Yar'Adua, would result in massive retirement of Permanent Secretaries and Directors, many of whom are from the North. Stephen Oronsaye has said that his goal is for the Nigerian civil service to be among the best organized and managed in the world. Oronsaye retired in November 2010 at the statutory age of 60 and was succeeded by Oladapo Afolabi.
On November 10, 2015, President Muhammadu Buhari summoned all the permanent secretaries to the Presidential Villa in Aso Rock and compulsorily retired 17 of them; their retirement in force with immediate effect.

## Head of the Civil Service

For many years, the post was concurrent with that of Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
| Head of Government | Name | Tenure Start | Tenure End |
| Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa | Dr. S. O. Wey | 1 September 1961 | 16 January 1966 |
| Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi Yakubu Gowon | M. A. Ejueyitchie | 4 August 1966 | 20 December 1970 |
| Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi Yakubu Gowon | A. A. Atta | 21 December 1970 | 12 June 1972 |
| Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi Yakubu Gowon | C. O. Lawson | 16 August 1972 | 31 March 1975 |
| Yakubu Gowon Murtala Muhammed Olusegun Obasanjo | A. A. Ayida | 23 April 1975 | 31 March 1977 |
| Olusegun Obasanjo | Alli L. Ciroma | 1 April 1977 | 30 September 1979 |
| Shehu Shagari | Shehu Ahmadu Musa | 1 October 1979 | 31 December 1983 |
| Muhammadu Buhari Ibrahim Babangida | G. A. Longe | 1 January 1984 | 30 January 1986 |
| ? | Abu Obe | ? | ? |
| Olusegun Obasanjo | Yayale Ahmed | 18 December 2000 | 26 July 2007 |
| Umaru Musa Yar'Adua | Ebele Ofunneamaka Okeke | 26 July 2007 | 16 June 2008 |
| Umaru Musa Yar'Adua | Amal Pepple | 16 June 2008 | June 2009 |
| Umaru Musa Yar'Adua Goodluck Jonathan | Stephen Osagiede Oronsaye | June 2009 | 18 November 2010 |
| Goodluck Jonathan | Oladapo Afolabi | 18 November 2010 | 29 September 2011 |
| Goodluck Jonathan | Isa Bello Sali | 29 September 2011 | August 2015 |
| Muhammadu Buhari | Winifred Oyo-Ita | August 2015 | 18 September 2019 |
| Muhammadu Buhari Bola Tinubu | Folashade Yemi-Esan | 18 September 2019 | 14 August 2024 |
| Bola Tinubu | Didi Esther Walson-Jack | 14 August 2024 | Present |