President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Thursday swore in Mr Abel Olumuyiwa Enitan as the new Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, HoCSF, formally ushering in a new leadership at the apex of Nigeria’s Federal Civil Service. Enitan succeeds Mrs Didi Esther Walson-Jack, who retired after attaining the mandatory retirement age of 60.
According to a State House press release issued by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, the brief swearing-in ceremony took place at the State House, Abuja, marking the commencement of Enitan’s tenure as the nation’s chief administrative officer.
The President had on August 19, 2026 appointed Enitan to succeed Walson-Jack, with the appointment taking effect on August 27. He was selected as the most senior Permanent Secretary in the Federal Civil Service.
Speaking at the ceremony, Tinubu congratulated the new Head of Service and charged him to maintain high standards of professionalism, integrity, accountability and efficiency in the Federal Civil Service.
The President had earlier tasked Enitan to consolidate ongoing reforms and innovations in the service, deepen professionalism and efficiency, and build a more effective and responsive civil service.
Tinubu also urged the new HoCSF to lead a service that is “professional, merit-driven, accountable, innovative, and responsive to Nigerians’ needs and aspirations.”
The President also acknowledged the contributions of the former Head of Service, Walson-Jack, commending her for the reforms, innovations and institutional improvements recorded during her tenure.
Enitan, an indigene of Osun State, was born on December 12, 1966. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Banking and Finance from the University of Lagos and a Master’s degree in Public Policy Analysis from Nasarawa State University, Keffi.
He joined the Federal Civil Service in 1998 as a Senior Operations Officer at the now discontinued Family Economic Advancement Programme, FEAP. He later served at the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs before moving to the Office of the Vice President, where he served as Chief Administrative Officer and rose to the rank of Director between 2010 and 2018.
Enitan was appointed Permanent Secretary in December 2018 and posted to the Federal Civil Service Commission. He subsequently served in the Ministries of Environment, Police Affairs, Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, and Education.
His appointment as Head of the Civil Service followed more than seven years as a Permanent Secretary across several government institutions.
The swearing-in was attended by Walson-Jack and her husband, Hon. Nimi Walson-Jack, Enitan’s wife, Mrs Olawunmi Ololade Enitan, and the Permanent Secretary, State House, Mr Peter Fashedemi, among other officials.
