Defence Ministry Sensitises Directors on Civil Service Reforms, Urges Staff to Drive Improved Service Delivery
Oru Leonard
The Federal Ministry of Defence has commenced a sensitisation programme for Directors, Service Improvement Officers, Service Charter Officers, Departmental Focal Officers and other key stakeholders on ongoing Federal Civil Service reforms, with a call on staff to embrace the initiatives to enhance efficiency, transparency and service delivery.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the programme held on Thursday at the Ministry’s headquarters, Ship House, Abuja, the Permanent Secretary, Richard Pheelangwah, said the reforms are designed to build a more efficient, accountable and citizen-centred public service in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the reform initiatives of the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.
Pheelangwah identified three major reform initiatives being promoted through the programme: the Federal Civil Service Mentoring Programme, the Enhanced Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) Self-Service Platform, and the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan (FCSSIP) 2025–2030.
He explained that the mentoring programme would facilitate the transfer of institutional knowledge from experienced officers to younger personnel, preserving institutional memory while preparing a new generation of competent public service leaders.
According to him, the enhanced IPPIS Self-Service Platform represents a significant step in the Federal Government’s digital transformation agenda by enabling civil servants to securely manage and update their personnel and payroll records, thereby reducing administrative bottlenecks and improving operational efficiency.
The Permanent Secretary further noted that the FCSSIP 2025–2030 provides a comprehensive framework for strengthening institutional capacity through innovation, accountability, performance management, staff development, digital governance and evidence-based decision-making, with the ultimate goal of improving service delivery across Ministries, Departments and Agencies.
Pheelangwah stressed that as the administrative backbone of Nigeria’s defence architecture, the Ministry of Defence must continuously strengthen its internal processes to support effective policy implementation, sound personnel management, institutional governance and enhanced national security.
He charged Service Improvement Officers, Service Charter Officers and Departmental Focal Officers to champion the reform agenda by cascading the knowledge gained during the programme, promoting the mentoring initiative, encouraging effective utilisation of the enhanced IPPIS Self-Service Platform, ensuring compliance with Service Charter standards and implementing practical service improvement initiatives within their departments.
He emphasised that sustainable service improvement requires not only policy reforms but also a positive organisational culture driven by professionalism, integrity, prompt service delivery, reduced bureaucracy, innovation and a commitment to excellence.
The Permanent Secretary commended the Department of Reform Coordination and Service Improvement for organising the sensitisation programme and encouraged participants to actively engage in the sessions and apply the knowledge acquired to improve operational efficiency across the Ministry.
Earlier, the Director of Reform Coordination and Service Improvement, Ogidi-Paul I. H., said the programme was organised to deepen participants’ understanding of the relaunched Enhanced IPPIS Self-Service Platform and equip them with the practical knowledge required to maximise its benefits.
She expressed appreciation to the Permanent Secretary for supporting the initiative and reaffirmed the department’s commitment to driving reforms that will strengthen public service performance.
Highlights of the programme included presentations on the Federal Civil Service Mentoring Programme, the relaunched Enhanced IPPIS Self-Service Platform, and the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan (FCSSIP) 2025–2030.
