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. The Nigerian Civil Service has its origins in organizations established by the British in colonial times.

History

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.

Structure

OHCSF has four parastatals which are:
For many years, the post was concurrent with that of Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
Head of GovernmentNameTenure StartTenure End
Sir Abubakar Tafawa BalewaDr. S. O. Wey1 September 196116 January 1966
Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi
Yakubu Gowon		M. A. Ejueyitchie4 August 196620 December 1970
Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi
Yakubu Gowon		A. A. Atta21 December 197012 June 1972
Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi
Yakubu Gowon		C. O. Lawson16 August 197231 March 1975
Yakubu Gowon
Murtala Muhammed
Olusegun Obasanjo		A. A. Ayida23 April 197531 March 1977
Olusegun ObasanjoAlli L. Ciroma1 April 197730 September 1979
Shehu ShagariShehu Ahmadu Musa1 October 197931 December 1983
Muhammadu Buhari
Ibrahim Babangida		G. A. Longe1 January 198430 January 1986
?Abu Obe??
Olusegun ObasanjoYayale Ahmed18 December 200026 July 2007
Umaru Musa Yar'AduaEbele Ofunneamaka Okeke26 July 200716 June 2008
Umaru Musa Yar'AduaAmal Pepple16 June 2008June 2009
Umaru Musa Yar'Adua
Goodluck Jonathan		Stephen Osagiede OronsayeJune 200918 November 2010
Goodluck JonathanOladapo Afolabi18 November 201029 September 2011
Goodluck JonathanIsa Bello Sali29 September 2011August 2015
Muhammadu BuhariWinifred Oyo-ItaAugust 201518 September 2019
Muhammadu Buhari
Bola Tinubu		Folashade Yemi-Esan18 September 201914 August 2024
Bola TinubuDidi Esther Walson-Jack14 August 2024Present