Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu has sworn in Esther Walson-Jack as the Head of Service (HoS) of the Federation.
Walson-Jack was sworn in just minutes before the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting on Monday. The president had initially appointed Walson-Jack as HoS on July 17, as announced in a statement by Ajuri Ngelale, the president’s spokesperson.
Ngelale stated that her appointment would take effect on August 14, following the retirement of the current HoS, Folasade Yemi-Esan, from the civil service.
During the ceremony, Tinubu urged Walson-Jack to serve the nation with integrity and transparency. He also commended Yemi-Esan for her dedication to work, describing her tenure as exceptional.
“We must learn from her commitment to duty, loyalty, and great vision. She served our nation exceptionally well with dedication, guiding the civil service through significant transformation and reforms,” Tinubu said. “Her dedication to enhancing efficiency, transparency, and professionalism has set a high standard for public administration in this country.”
“As she steps down, we express our deep gratitude for her unwavering commitment and the significant impact she has made on our country. We thank you very much.”
Following her swearing-in, Walson-Jack addressed journalists, expressing her intention to build on her predecessor’s successes. “I must also thank the outgoing HoS, Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan, for her mentorship and guidance throughout my career,” she said. “I look forward to building on the existing reforms in a way that will bring innovation and creativity so that the civil service can be more effective and efficient in delivering on the Renewed Hope Agenda.”
Walson-Jack holds a Bachelor of Law degree from the University of Lagos and was called to the bar in 1987. An Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON), she has served as the Solicitor-General of Bayelsa State and as the Permanent Secretary of the State Ministry of Justice.
She played a strategic role in implementing the Federal Integrated Staff Housing Programme (FISH) and has made significant contributions to labour relations and the national minimum wage. She is also an alumna of the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, Plateau State.
