…….A Bold Step Towards Transforming the Civil Service for National Development.
The Federal Ministry of Works marked a historic milestone in the ongoing reform of the Civil Service with the official flag-off of the Personnel Audit and Skills Gaps Analysis (PASGA) on Thursday, 16th October 2025.
The inauguration ceremony was held at the Ministry’s headquarters and was formally declared open by the Director Overseeing the Office of the Permanent Secretary (DOOPS), Mr. Aliyu Abdullahi.
The PASGA exercise, which is to be conducted in close collaboration with the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF), aims to revolutionise human capital management across the Ministry and its agencies. The initiative focuses on personnel verification, data collection, workforce optimisation, and organisational restructuring, laying the groundwork for a more productive and efficient Service. It is also a landmark initiative for Public sector reform.
Delivering his keynote address, the Project Manager, Coordinator and Lead Analyst for PASGA, Mr. Jonathan Yusuf, emphasised the critical importance of the initiative. He described it as “a bold and necessary step to transform the Civil Service, achieve an improved workforce, and reposition the country for sustained development.”
According to Mr. Yusuf, the core objectives of PASGA include:
i. Conducting a comprehensive personnel verification of all staff within the Ministry,
ii. Performing a skills audit to determine areas of expertise and identify critical skills gaps,
iii. Enabling the Ministry to realign its human resource capabilities with national infrastructure goals and
iv. Establishing an accurate, updated database of all Civil Servants, under the Ministry of Works.
“This is not just another routine audit,” Yusuf noted, “but a strategic and transformative pillar of the Civil Service reform, especially as we prepare for 2026. Any member of staff, who absents from this exercise will be automatically considered not in the Service,” he warned.
Questionnaires will be distributed across all departments to assess staff performance and gather input for strategic workforce planning.
It was clearly emphasised that no new employment or wage approvals will be granted until the audit is completed, as the Ministry is currently grappling with staff inadequacies. Agencies under the Ministry are now mandated to register and capture every staff, ensuring no personnel is left unverified.
The full implementation of PASGA will take place between October 20 and November 14, 2025, and will include:
i. Physical verification and biometric capturing of staff,
ii. Document verification to update and authenticate personnel records and
iii. Analysis of current workforce distribution in comparison to existing and future infrastructure demands.
In his remarks, the DOOPS, who doubles as the Director, Human Resource Management (DHRM), reiterated the commitment of the Ministry’s leadership to ensuring the full success of PASGA. He urged all departments, units and agencies to prepare diligently and take ownership of the process.
“This exercise is not optional. It is the foundation to a stronger, smarter, and more accountable Service,” Mr. Abdullahi stated. “It is also a critical step in ensuring that the Ministry is staffed with the right people in the right positions, delivering on the mandate of national development,” he added.
He further noted that beyond verification, PASGA will provide valuable insights into training needs, succession planning, and career development, helping to elevate the overall effectiveness of government operations.
The event concluded with a Vote of Thanks delivered by the Deputy Director, Appointment, Promotion and Discipline, Mr. Kabiru Bello, who expressed gratitude to the leadership of the Ministry and all stakeholders for their commitment to transparency, reform, and national progress.
The PASGA initiative is a major milestone in Civil Service transformation that is set to influence how personnel management is approached not only within the Ministry of Works but across the broader Federal Service architecture.
The lunch was attended by a broad representation of Ministry’s officials, including Directors, Deputy Directors, Assistant Directors, and other staff, all of whom pledged their support for the success of PASGA.
Signed
Mohammed Abdullahi Ahmed,
Director, Press and Public Relations.
17th October 2025.
