A landmark visit by Nigeria鈥檚 Civil Service leaders to Singapore’s UNDP Global Centre marks a new chapter in the transformation of Nigeria’s public service
On 25 January 2025, a Nigerian delegation led by Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF), visited the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Global Centre for Technology, Innovation, and Sustainable Development in Singapore. The visit was a pivotal moment for Nigeria鈥檚 public service, aiming to strengthen its capacity for transformation by learning from Singapore鈥檚 renowned civil service model.
During the visit, Mrs. Walson-Jack reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to achieving public service excellence. She emphasised the importance of international collaboration in improving Nigeria’s civil service and expressed a desire to adopt best practices from Singapore, which is internationally recognised for its efficient, transparent, and innovative public service systems.
The visit also led to the proposal for a partnership between the UNDP Global Centre and the Public Service Institute of Nigeria. This collaboration is set to focus on joint training programmes, research, and the exchange of innovative solutions, with the goal of transforming Nigeria鈥檚 civil service into a model of professionalism, accountability, and efficiency.
Mrs. Walson-Jack praised Singapore鈥檚 accomplishments in public sector transformation and expressed eagerness to incorporate Singapore鈥檚 successful practices into Nigeria鈥檚 civil service reform efforts. She also thanked the UNDP in Nigeria for facilitating the visit and expressed gratitude to the Global Centre for its warm hospitality.
The Nigerian delegation, comprising 20 Heads of State Civil Services, is the first group in the first phase of an initiative aimed at modernising Nigeria鈥檚 civil service by drawing inspiration from the globally respected Singapore Public Service model. This collaboration is expected to play a key role in improving public service delivery and policy implementation in Nigeria.
Source:
