Walson-Jack Takes Over from Yemi-Esan as HoS

Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack has formally taken over the baton as the Head of Civil Service of the Federation (HoS) from Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan following her appointment and the swearing-in by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Federal Executive Council meeting.

The handing-over ceremony took place at the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF), yesterday being the retirement date for Dr. Yemi-Esan.

In her acceptance speech, Walson-Jack, expressed gratitude to the President for the trust and confidence reposed in her to serve the nation, promising to honour the achievements of her predecessors by continuing and fast tracking ongoing reform initiatives in the Service.

The new head of service reiterated the maximum use of technology in driving transformation in the Service and promised to maintain, enforce and deploy the core principles of the service in all her dealings.

She also beckoned on all stakeholders and civil servants to support the vision and mission of the Service toward the realisation of the Renewed Hope Agenda of the present administration.

Earlier, Dr. Yemi-Esan, prayed God to sustain her successor and give her the necessary strength and wisdom to excel, in the overall interest of the Service and Nigeria, in general.

Tinubu had on Monday, before the commencement of the FEC meeting, sworn in the newly appointed HoSF.

 At the occasion, he had admonished her to serve the nation with integrity and transparency.

Walson-Jack holds a Bachelor of Law degree from the University of Lagos and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1987.

She started her Civil Service career as a State Counsel in Rivers State in 1992, rising to the position of Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice in Bayelsa State.

The HoSF joined the Federal Civil Service in 2009 and was appointed as Permanent Secretary in 2017. She served in several MDAs, including the OHCSF, Niger Delta Affairs,Power, Water Resources and Sanitation and, lately, Education.

During her tour of duty at the OHCSF, as the Permanent Secretary, Service Welfare Office (SWO), she is credited with initiatives such as the  creation of the Federal Integrated Staff Housing (FISH) programme and immersed contributions to labour relations and the national minimum wage.

She is a recipient of the National Honour of the Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) and an alumna of the prestigious National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru.  Her wealth of experience and dedication to the Service and country, at large, are testimonies to her numerous roles and achievements.

She is the author of the novel, ‘Roses in the Thorns’ and is happily married with children.