Tinubu Swears In Enitan as Head of Civil Service

ABUJA — President Bola Tinubu on Thursday swore in Mr Abel Olumuyiwa Enitan as the new Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HoCSF), following the retirement of Mrs Didi Esther Walson-Jack.

The brief swearing-in ceremony took place at the State House, Abuja, marking the formal commencement of Enitan’s tenure as the nation’s Chief Administrative Officer.

The President had, on Aug. 19, 2026, appointed Enitan, the most senior Permanent Secretary in the Federal Civil Service, as the new Head of Service, with effect from Aug. 27.

Enitan succeeded Walson-Jack, who retired from the Federal Civil Service after attaining the mandatory retirement age of 60.

The former Head of Service attended the swearing-in ceremony with her husband, Hon. Nimi Walson-Jack.

Also present were the wife of the new Head of Service, Mrs Olawunmi Ololade Enitan, and the Permanent Secretary, State House, Mr Temitope Fashedemi.

Congratulating Enitan, Tinubu charged him to uphold the highest standards of professionalism, integrity, accountability and efficiency in the Nigerian Civil Service.

In his Aug. 19 appointment announcement, issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, the President also tasked Enitan with consolidating ongoing reforms and innovations in the Civil Service.

Tinubu urged the new Head of Service to deepen professionalism and efficiency and build a more effective and responsive Civil Service capable of delivering on the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

The President further charged him to lead a Civil Service that would be professional, merit-driven, accountable, innovative and responsive to the needs and aspirations of Nigerians.

Enitan, who hails from Osun State, was born on Dec. 12, 1966.

He obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Finance and Banking from the University of Lagos in 1988 and a Master’s degree in Public Policy Analysis from Nasarawa State University, Keffi, in 2015.

He joined the Federal Civil Service in 1998 as a Senior Operations Officer with the then Family Economic Advancement Programme (FEAP).

He subsequently served at the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs before his posting to the Office of the Vice-President at the State House.

At the State House, Enitan served as Chief Administrative Officer and rose to the rank of Director between 2010 and 2018.

He was appointed Permanent Secretary in December 2018 and was subsequently posted to the Federal Civil Service Commission.

He later served as Permanent Secretary in the Ministries of Environment, Police Affairs, Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, and Education.

At the time of his appointment as Head of Service, Enitan was the Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Education and had served as a Permanent Secretary for seven years and seven months.

The Presidency said Enitan brought considerable institutional experience and a deep understanding of the workings of the Federal Civil Service to his new responsibility.

Tinubu had expressed appreciation to Walson-Jack for her service to the nation and for the reforms, impact and innovations recorded in the Civil Service during her tenure.

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

Tinubu Swears In Enitan as Head of Civil Service

From left: Wife of the Head of Service, Mrs Olawunmi Ololade Enitan, Head of Civil Service of the Federation (HoCSF), Mr Abel Olumuyiwa Enitan, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, former Head of Civil Service of the Federation (HoCSF), Mrs Didi Esther Walson-Jack, and her husband, Hon. Nimi Wilson-Jack, at the swearing-in ceremony of the HoCSF at the State House, Abuja. Thursday, August 27, 2026