With a vision to create a World-Class, Future-Ready Civil Service, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF), Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, OON, mni, has launched the ONCE-Knowledge System Steering Committee- a groundbreaking platform to harmonise and elevate capacity building, knowledge management, and talent development across the Federal Civil Service.
Speaking at the inauguration in Abuja, Mrs. Walson-Jack, described the initiative as, “a bold new approach that ensures every Civil Servant, from the newest entrant to the most senior executive, is prepared, empowered, and supported throughout their career journey.”
She explained that the system addresses long-standing fragmentation in capacity building by creating a single, coordinated framework that follows civil servants from entry to exit, anchored on the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan 2021–2025 (FCSSIP 25), specifically Pillar One: Capacity Building and Talent Management.
Mrs Walson-Jackson stated that the ONCE-Knowledge System is anchored on five interconnected pillars designed to support civil servants throughout their career journey. It begins with comprehensive onboarding programmes for newly recruited and newly promoted officers, ensuring early alignment with the values and priorities of the Service.
This is followed by robust capability development initiatives, such as the Structured Mandatory Assessment-Based Programme (SMAT-P), the Leadership Enhancement and Development Programme (LEAD-P), cadre-specific trainings, and digital literacy programmes covering emerging technologies.
To strengthen leadership at the highest levels, the framework also provides executive masterclasses for ministers, permanent secretaries, and chief executives of federal agencies. As officers transition out of service, structured exit management protocols preserve institutional memory and support retirees through entrepreneurship and agripreneurship initiatives. Finally, a dedicated knowledge management strategy institutionalises learning, fosters communities of practice, and safeguards the collective wisdom of the Civil Service for future generations.
In her welcome address, Permanent Secretary, Career Management Office, Mrs. Fatima Mahmood, reaffirmed the importance of the initiative, noting that it “brings coherence to all capacity building efforts and ensures we deliver tangible results in this declared Year of Accomplishments.”
The 14- member Committee is chaired by Mrs. Fatima Mahmood, Permanent Secretary, Career Management Office, and comprises senior officials from key government offices, heads of federal training institutions, representatives of development partners, and private sector experts in capacity building and knowledge management.
The inauguration marks another milestone in the ongoing civil service reform journey, signalling the Federal Government’s commitment to building a highly skilled, future-ready workforce capable of delivering world-class public services to Nigerians.
Signed
Mrs. Eno Olotu, mnipr
Director, Information and Public Relations
Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation
2nd September, 2025
