Serve with integrity, transparency – Tinubu tells new HoS

President Tinubu has asked the new Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Esther Wilson-Jack to serve the nation with integrity and transparency.

President Tinubu said this on Monday during the swearing in of Mrs Wilson-Jack as the new HoS and a valedictory session in honour of Mrs Folashade Esan, the outing HoS.

Tinubu described Mrs Esan tenure as HoS as exemplary, adding that Esan’s leadership of the civil service was profound, and that she carried out numerous reforms that repositioned the civil service.

He thanked Esan for her exemplary tenure, commitment, loyalty and great vision: “As she steps down, we express gratitude to her for her exemplary service to the nation.”

While bidding Esan farewell, the President swore in Mrs Esther Wilson-Jack, as the new HoS.

“You are stepping into a very big shoe. We pray that God will guide you and give you the wisdom to lead the civil service creditably,” said the President.

Esan, speaking to State House correspondents after bowing out, said she was grateful to God and the President for giving her the opportunity to serve the country.

“I appreciate Mr President for his king guidance, which he demonstrated beyond every doubt. I thank all the ministers I worked with.

“I would like to appeal to the public servants to put the interest of the nation first; with that we are sure of the progress of the nation,” SA he said.

Wilson-Jack said she was grateful to the President for appointing her as the HoS of the federation.

“I see it as  a divine assignment and I had the opportunity to assure Mr President that by the grace of God I will not disappoint him.

“I come as a servant of all to work together not only with the permanent secretaries but also with the directors and the entire civil service to enable us deliver on the Renewed Hope Agenda,” she said.

Mrs. Walson-Jack holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Lagos and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1987.

Her public service career commenced as a state counsel in Rivers State in 1992, and she later rose to the position of Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary in Bayelsa State.

In 2009, she joined the Federal Civil Service and was appointed as Permanent Secretary in 2017.

Mrs. Walson-Jack has held key positions in several ministries, including Power, Water Resources, Education, and the Office of the Head of the Civil Service.

She is credited with initiatives, such as the Federal Integrated Staff Housing Programme (FISH) and contributions to labour relations and the national minimum wage.

She is an Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) and an alumna of the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru.

The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation is the author of the novel, ‘Roses in the Thorns’.