Tinubu Swears In Abel Enitan as New Head of Nigeria’s Civil Service

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has formally sworn in Abel Olumuyiwa Enitan as the new Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF), marking the beginning of a new phase in the administration of Nigeria’s federal bureaucracy.

Enitan took the oath of office on Thursday, August 27, 2026, during a brief ceremony at the State House in Abuja. His assumption of office followed the retirement of his predecessor, Didi Esther Walson-Jack, who exited the service after attaining the statutory retirement age of 60.

The appointment had earlier been announced by the Presidency on August 19, with the government specifying that Enitan’s tenure would commence on August 27. His emergence followed his status as the most senior Permanent Secretary in the Federal Civil Service.

Before his elevation, Enitan served as Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Education. He had accumulated seven years and seven months of experience at the Permanent Secretary level, with previous postings to the Ministry of Police Affairs, the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, and the Office of the Vice President.

The new Head of Service is an indigene of Osun State and brings extensive experience across several key government institutions to his new assignment. The Presidency said his career has given him considerable institutional knowledge and a strong understanding of the operations of the Federal Civil Service.

Enitan was born on December 12, 1966. He attended Ajibode Grammar School, Ibadan, and the College of Arts and Science, Ile-Ife, before proceeding to the University of Lagos, where he obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance and Banking in 1988.

He later strengthened his academic credentials with a Master’s degree in Public Policy Analysis from Nasarawa State University, Keffi, which he obtained in 2015. His educational and administrative background is expected to support his responsibilities at the apex of Nigeria’s civil service structure.

Tinubu has charged Enitan with consolidating ongoing reforms and innovations within the Federal Civil Service while improving professionalism, efficiency and institutional responsiveness. The President also tasked him with helping build a more effective public service capable of supporting the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

The President further urged the new Head of Service to promote a civil service anchored on merit, accountability, innovation and responsiveness to the needs and aspirations of Nigerians. The directive places Enitan at the centre of efforts to strengthen administrative effectiveness across the federal government.

Meanwhile, Tinubu expressed appreciation to Walson-Jack for her service to the country, particularly the reforms, innovations and institutional improvements recorded during her tenure. With Enitan now officially in office, attention will turn to how he navigates the challenges of modernising Nigeria’s public service while maintaining continuity in ongoing government reforms.