Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Abel Enitan and President Bola Tinubu. Photo: State House
President Bola Tinubu has sworn in Abel Enitan as the new Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF).
Enitan was sworn in on Thursday at a brief ceremony held at the State House, Abuja, formally assuming office following the retirement of his predecessor, Didi Walson-Jack.
Walson-Jack retired from the Federal Civil Service after attaining the statutory retirement age of 60. A formal handover ceremony was also held on Thursday, during which she and Enitan signed official documents before she presented the handover note to her successor.
Presenting the document, Walson-Jack said it covered her tenure from August 14, 2024, to August 27, 2026. The exchange of handshakes between the two officials marked the formal transfer of responsibilities.
Enitan, an indigene of Osun State, is the most senior Permanent Secretary in the Federal Civil Service. He had served as a Permanent Secretary for seven years and seven months before his appointment as Head of Service.
He previously served at the Ministry of Police Affairs, Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and the Office of the Vice President, before becoming Permanent Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Education.
President Tinubu appointed Enitan on August 19, 2026, with the appointment taking effect on August 27.
In announcing the appointment, the President said Enitan brings “considerable institutional experience and a deep understanding of how the Federal Civil Service works” to his new role.
Tinubu charged the new Head of Service with consolidating ongoing reforms and innovations, deepening professionalism and efficiency, and building a more effective and responsive Civil Service.
He also urged Enitan to lead a service that is “professional, merit-driven, accountable, innovative, and responsive to Nigerians’ needs and aspirations.”
The President commended Walson-Jack for her service to the nation and the “reforms, impact and innovations witnessed in the Civil Service during her tenure.”
Born on December 12, 1966, Enitan attended Ajibode Grammar School, Ibadan, and the College of Arts and Science, Ile-Ife. He obtained a B.Sc. in Finance and Banking from the University of Lagos in 1988 and later earned an M.Sc. in Public Policy Analysis from Nasarawa State University in 2015.
