HoSF pledges to build on existing reforms, to deliver on Renewed Hope Agenda
President Bola Tinubu has sworn in the new Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Esther Walson-Jack.
She was sworn in before the commencement of the Federal Executive Council meeting at which the president presided.
The newly sworn-in HoSF, who was adopted into the Council meeting chaired by Tinubu, earlier today, (Monday, August 12), pledged to build on existing reforms in the service to align with the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda, adding that she would inject innovations and creativity so as to make the Civil Service more efficient and effective.
Her appointment is effective 14 August 2024, when the outgoing Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Folasade Yemi-Esan, retires on 13 August 2024.
Walson-Jack was appointed as Federal Permanent Secretary in 2017 and has served in several ministries.
In his remarks Tinubu said, “You’re stepping into very big shoes, and we pray that God continues to guide you, provide you with wisdom and enhance your integrity to serve this country and the civil service in the most successful way.”
He described Yemi-Esan tenure as “an exceptional tenure,” adding that “Dr. Folashade Yemi-Esan must be thanked for her exceptional tenure as Head of Service. We thank her for her commitment, duty and loyalty.”
“As she steps down, we express our deep gratitude for her unwavering commitment in the service of her country. As we bid farewell to her, we are also here to swear in officially the new Head of Service,” the president said.
Born in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, on August 27, 1966, Walson-Jack holds a Bachelor’s in Law from the University of Lagos and was called to the bar in 1987.
She served as Solicitor-General of Bayelsa State and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Justice in July 2002.
Her career in the Federal Civil Service commenced at the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs where she served as pioneer State Co-ordinator of the Rivers State Office of the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs.
She is an alumna of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, Plateau State, Nigeria.
Until her latest appointment, Walson-Jack served as the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Education since January 2024, following the retirement of the substantive Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. David Andrew Adejo.
Walson-Jack was born in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. She holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Lagos, and was admitted as a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in 1987.
She holds Certificates in Legislative Drafting from the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, Lagos, and the California State Senate, U.S.A. She is a Certified Conflict Resolution and Peace Building practitioner.
After her mandatory National Service and an enterprising brief stint in private practice, she joined the Public Service as a State Counsel in the Rivers State Ministry of Justice.
On the creation of Bayelsa State out of the old Rivers State in 1996, Walson-Jack transferred her service to the Ministry of Justice, Bayelsa State.
Her career with the Federal Civil Service commenced at the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs where she served as pioneer State Co-ordinator of the Rivers State Office of the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs. She was later promoted to the post of a Deputy Director (Appointments, Promotion and Discipline) at the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, Abuja.
In 2015, Mrs. Walson-Jack served in the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation as Director, Special Duties in the Special Duties Office. She was later deployed as the substantive Director of Human Resource Management at the Federal Ministry of Health, and later the Director, Planning, Research and Statistics at the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs. She was also, one-time Director, Special Duties, Office of the Permanent Secretary (Special Duties), in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
