Imbibe professionalism in public service/ human resource management, federal perm.Sec. urges civil servants

By Ogbonnaya Ikokwu On Dec 2, 2025

Ogbonnaya Ikokwu, Umuahia

The 44th National Council and Annual Conference of Civil Service commissions of the Federation has kicked off in Umuahia the Abia State capital with call on participants to imbibe professionalism in public service and human resource management.

Speaking during one of technical sessions on Monday the permanent secretary Federal Civil Service Commission, Mr Phillip Ebiogeh, said the theme of conference “Repositioning Civil Service Commissions in Nigeria as a Hub of Professionalism in Public Service Human Resource Management” – is timely as it profoundly significant as It aligns squarely with contemporary public sector reforms.

He added that the conference will expose participants to the broader expectations of a modern Civil Service that is merit-based, productive, proactive, ethical, performance-driven, and citizen-centred.

Ebiogeh pointed out that the conference will promote the principles of good governance as enshrined in the Civil Service Handbook, which underscores professionalism, accountability, transparency and efficiency as cornerstones of public administration.

He said, “The Public Service today operates in a rapidly evolving socio-economic and technological environment, global labour market transitions, digital government imperatives, and rising citizens’ expectations demand a workforce that is not only competent but adaptable, innovative, and alignes with global standards.

“As gatekeepers of meritocracy and custodians of public service values, Civil Service Commissions must therefore transform into strategic human resource institutions—not merely recruitment agencies, but champions of professional standards, workforce planning, career development, and ethical governance”.

“Central to this transformation are several reform pillars:
Professionalisation and Merit-Based Human Resource (HR) Systems. Strengthening recruitment, promotion, and disciplinary processes to ensure fairness, objectivity, and adherence to extant rules such as the Public Service Rules (PSR, 2021).

“Embedding competencies and performance indicators into HR decisions, consistent with the Comprehensive Competency Framework for the Federal Civil Service which highlights behaviours and skills expected of officers at all levels”.

Also speaking the permanent secretary Abia State civil service commission Mrs Ekaette Oham, said the theme of the conference is a wake-up call for Federal and states Civil Services Commissions to institutionalize positive legislative steps to employ a regime of functionalism in human resource management.

“Therefore, we must go beyond the rhetoric to imbibe visible and identifiable practices to reposition the civil service” she said.

Oham urged all the participants to engage actively, contribute boldly and embrace the spirit of change as well as collaboration all through the event.

She said, “Let us not leave here armed only with recommendations, but with renewed zeal and determination to implement them. The repositioning of our civil service commissions is not a task for tomorrow. It is a responsibility for today and together we must rise to it.

“This conference, therefore, provides us with a unique platform to dialogue and to profess a new trajectory for reflections on strengthening our institutions, capacities and competences.

“Over the coming sessions, we shall interrogate current practices, share experiences and explore strategies that will strengthen recruitment processes, enhance training and capacity development and entrench professionalism across all public service.

“Our deliberations must aim at building a civil service that is not only competent and ethical, but also responsive to the needs of our nation in the 21st century”.

The conference which commenced on Sunday November 30 with the arrival of delegates is expected to come to close on Friday December 5, is expected to produce robust outcomes that will further reposition the Service Commissions as credible, professional, and reform-driven institutions.