From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
The new Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Esther Walson-Jack, has officially assumed office, having successfully taken over from Folasade Yemi-Esan, who retired yesterday.
President Bola Tinubu had inaugurated Walson-Jack during the Federal Executive Council meeting on Monday.
In a statement issued by Director of Communications, Mohammed Ahmed, the handing over ceremony took place at the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF), being the retirement date for Yemi-Esan.
In her acceptance speech, Walson-Jack expressed gratitude for the opportunity and committed to advancing ongoing reforms within the civil service, emphasizing the importance of technology and the core principles of Accountability, Meritocracy, Professionalism, Loyalty, and Efficiency (AMPLE).
She called for collaboration from all stakeholders to support the government’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
She, however, beckoned on all stakeholders and Civil Servants to support the Vision and Mission of the Service toward the realisation of the Renewed Hope Agenda of the present Administration.
Yemi-Esan, in her farewell, wished her successor strength and prayed to God to sustain her successor and give her the necessary strength and wisdom to excel, in the overall interest of the Service and Nigeria, in general.
Walson-Jack, a lawyer with extensive civil service experience, previously served as Permanent Secretary in several ministries, including Education and Justice, and is recognized for her contributions to labour relations and housing initiatives.
She 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.
The HoSF joined the 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 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 immersed contributions to labour relations and the national minimum wage.
The HoSF 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.