By Philip Yatai
Abuja, Dec. 24, 2025 (NAN) – In a decisive move to modernize governance, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has reaffirmed its commitment to a foundational overhaul of its workforce. The goal is clear: to forge a civil service that is not only competent and ethical but also resilient and adaptive to future challenges, directly supporting President Bola Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope Agenda.” This is more than a policy statement; it is a structured, actionable reform program now taking shape.
The FCT Head of Service, Mrs. Nancy Nathan, solidified this commitment at the opening of a Strategic Validation Workshop for Permanent Secretaries on the FCT Leadership Enhancement and Development Programme (FCT-LEAD-P). She positioned the initiative as the engine for advancing broader public service reforms, stating that “effective leadership development remains central to policy implementation and improved service delivery to residents.”
Nathan elaborated that the FCT-LEAD-P is designed to institutionalize three critical pillars: succession planning, talent development, and ethical leadership. Unlike generic training, the program employs a structured, competency-based framework that merges global best practices with the unique realities of the FCT’s administrative landscape. She urged the Permanent Secretaries to actively shape the program’s syllabus, emphasizing that their practical insights are vital for cultivating the next generation of FCT leaders.
Echoing the need for a modernized skill set, the Permanent Secretary for Common Services, Mr. Rotimi Ajayi, highlighted a often-overlooked but crucial competency: strategic communication. He described the workshop as “timely and consistent” with the reform drives of both the FCTA and the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan.
“Beyond technical competence,” Ajayi asserted, “public servants must be skilled in communicating government policies and programmes clearly, credibly, and persuasively.” This focus on communication is strategic—it directly enhances public trust, facilitates stakeholder engagement, and boosts citizen satisfaction, thereby closing the gap between policy design and public perception.
Dr. Jumai Ahmadu, Acting Director of the Reform Coordination and Service Improvement Department, provided a detailed technical breakdown of the program’s concrete progress. She identified FCT-LEAD-P as a flagship initiative with several key achievements already realized:
- Tailored Competency Framework: Development of a leadership framework specifically designed for the FCT’s needs, ensuring relevance and sustainability.
- Comprehensive Curriculum: A drafted syllabus covering leadership theory, practical skills, ethics, innovation, and public sector reforms, created with expert input.
- Merit-Based Selection: A transparent process to identify high-potential officers for the pilot cohort, emphasizing meritocracy.
- Stakeholder Buy-in: Engagement sessions with directors and technical teams to foster institutional ownership from the outset.
The validation workshop with Permanent Secretaries serves as the final critical step to review, refine, and endorse this syllabus, ensuring it is fully aligned with the administration’s overarching reform and service delivery agenda.
Analysis: The Broader Implications
This initiative represents a shift from sporadic training to a systemic capacity-building ecosystem. By embedding succession planning and a defined competency framework, the FCTA is proactively mitigating leadership gaps and fostering a culture of continuous learning. The explicit focus on ethics seeks to rebuild institutional integrity, while the emphasis on future-readiness suggests an incorporation of digital literacy, innovative problem-solving, and adaptive management techniques. If sustained, FCT-LEAD-P could serve as a replicable model for sub-national civil service transformation across Nigeria, translating the “Renewed Hope Agenda” into tangible administrative competence.
(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Funmilayo Adeyemi
