President Bola Tinubu has appointed Mr. Abel Olumuyiwa Enitan as the new Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF), effective August 27, 2026.

Enitan will succeed Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, who is set to retire from the Federal Civil Service after attaining the statutory retirement age of 60.

The appointment places one of the Federal Civil Service’s most experienced Permanent Secretaries at the helm of the institution responsible for coordinating and driving the administrative machinery of the Federal Government.

Enitan Set to Take Over as Head of Service

Mr. Abel Olumuyiwa Enitan is from Osun State and is currently the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Education. Official records from the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation list him as the Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Education.

His appointment follows several years of senior-level experience within the Federal Civil Service. According to the information released on his appointment, Enitan is the most senior serving Permanent Secretary in the Federal Civil Service, having spent seven years and seven months in the position.

His career as a Permanent Secretary has taken him through important government institutions, including the Ministry of Police Affairs, the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and the Office of the Vice President. He became Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Education in March 2025, taking over from Dr. Nasir Sani-Gwarzo.

The Federal Ministry of Education continues to identify Enitan as its Permanent Secretary in its official executive directory.

Extensive Experience Across Government

Enitan’s career has given him exposure to several areas of public administration, including security, humanitarian affairs, education and executive-level government coordination.

His previous assignment at the Ministry of Police Affairs placed him within a sector closely connected to national security and public safety. During his tenure there, he was involved in discussions around performance management and efforts to improve productivity within the Federal Civil Service.

His subsequent responsibilities in the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and the Office of the Vice President further broadened his experience across different areas of government administration.

This background is particularly significant for the position of Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, which requires extensive knowledge of government processes, inter-ministerial coordination, personnel management and public-sector reform.

Current Role at the Federal Ministry of Education

Enitan assumed office as Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Education in March 2025.

At the time, he called on directors and staff of the ministry to strengthen their commitment to effective service delivery and support the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda. He also emphasised teamwork, collaboration, open communication and the need for progressive reforms in the education sector.

As Permanent Secretary, Enitan has overseen administrative responsibilities within one of Nigeria’s largest and most strategically important ministries.

The Federal Ministry of Education has continued to identify him as Permanent Secretary in official publications and policy documents, including education-sector guidelines issued in 2026.

His approach to administration has also included emphasis on discipline, accountability and leadership by example. In October 2025, he urged directors within the ministry to establish clear work plans and implementation timelines while stressing that accountability should begin with senior officials.

Academic Background

Abel Olumuyiwa Enitan was born on December 12, 1966.

He began his education in Ibadan, where he attended Ajibode Grammar School. He subsequently attended the College of Arts and Science in Ile-Ife.

Enitan later proceeded to the University of Lagos, where he obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance and Banking in 1988.

He furthered his academic training with a Master of Science degree in Public Policy Analysis from Nasarawa State University, Lafia, which he obtained in 2015.

His combination of financial education, public policy training and extensive administrative experience has formed the professional foundation of his career in the Federal Civil Service.

Enitan Joined the Federal Permanent Secretary Cadre in 2018

Enitan’s appointment as a Federal Permanent Secretary dates back to 2018.

The Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation announced his appointment among a group of newly appointed Permanent Secretaries in December 2018 and identified Osun as his state of origin.

Since then, he has served in several strategic government assignments, building a broad understanding of the workings of the Federal Government.

His progression through different ministries and offices has also provided him with experience in coordinating government programmes, managing public institutions and working with senior political and administrative officials.

Tinubu Charges Enitan to Deepen Civil Service Reforms

President Tinubu has charged the incoming Head of the Civil Service of the Federation to consolidate the reforms and innovations already taking place within the Federal Civil Service.

The President also wants Enitan to deepen professionalism and efficiency throughout the service and strengthen its capacity to deliver on the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

The new Head of Service is expected to lead efforts toward creating a Federal Civil Service that is professional, merit-driven, accountable, innovative and responsive to the needs and aspirations of Nigerians.

The directive reflects the administration’s broader emphasis on improving the effectiveness of government institutions and ensuring that public-sector personnel are better positioned to translate government policies into measurable results.

Walson-Jack to Retire After Years of Public Service

Enitan’s appointment will bring Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack’s tenure as Head of the Civil Service of the Federation to an end as she prepares for retirement.

President Tinubu expressed appreciation to Walson-Jack for her distinguished service to Nigeria and recognised the reforms, innovations and institutional impact recorded in the Civil Service during her tenure.

The President also conveyed the nation’s gratitude for her years of dedicated public service and wished her a fulfilling and successful life after retirement.

Her departure creates the transition point for Enitan to assume responsibility for the Federal Civil Service from August 27, 2026.

What Enitan’s Appointment Means for the Federal Civil Service

The appointment comes at a significant time for Nigeria’s public administration, as the Federal Government continues to pursue reforms aimed at improving efficiency, accountability and service delivery.

The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation plays a central role in coordinating the administrative structure of the Federal Government. The position involves providing leadership to the civil service, supporting institutional reforms, strengthening professionalism and ensuring that public servants operate within established rules and standards.

Enitan’s extensive experience as a Permanent Secretary across several ministries is therefore expected to be central to his new responsibilities.

His previous assignments have exposed him to different policy environments and administrative challenges, while his current position in the education sector has given him direct experience managing a large ministry with significant responsibilities for national human-capital development.

A Career Built Around Public Administration

Enitan’s career reflects a progression through different levels and sectors of the Federal Civil Service.

From his early professional background in finance and banking to his postgraduate studies in public policy and subsequent senior administrative appointments, he has developed experience across both technical and policy-oriented aspects of government.

His work at the Ministry of Police Affairs, Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Office of the Vice President and Federal Ministry of Education has given him exposure to diverse government mandates.

That breadth of experience will become particularly relevant as he assumes responsibility for a civil service comprising numerous ministries, departments and agencies and a large workforce spread across the country.

New Head of Service Expected to Strengthen Efficiency and Professionalism

President Tinubu’s directive to Enitan places considerable emphasis on professionalism, merit, accountability and innovation.

These priorities are central to efforts to make the Federal Civil Service more responsive to citizens and more capable of implementing government policies efficiently.

For Enitan, the immediate responsibility will be to build on reforms inherited from the outgoing administration of the Head of Service while identifying areas where administrative processes can be strengthened.

His experience in different government institutions may provide an advantage in coordinating the interests and operational realities of various ministries and agencies.

Effective Date of the Appointment

Mr. Abel Olumuyiwa Enitan will officially assume the position of Head of the Civil Service of the Federation on August 27, 2026.

He succeeds Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, whose retirement follows the statutory retirement age of 60.

Until the transition takes effect, Enitan remains the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Education, a position he has held since March 2025.

His elevation to Head of the Civil Service of the Federation marks another major stage in a public-service career spanning decades and positions him at the centre of Nigeria’s federal administrative system.

With President Tinubu’s mandate to consolidate reforms, improve efficiency and strengthen professionalism, Enitan is expected to use his extensive institutional experience to lead the Federal Civil Service toward a more effective, accountable and responsive public administration.