President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Abel Olumuyiwa Enitan as the new Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HOCSF), effective August 27, 2026.
Enitan will succeed Didi Esther Walson-Jack, who is due to retire from the Federal Civil Service after attaining the statutory retirement age of 60.
The appointment places one of the Federal Civil Service’s most experienced Permanent Secretaries at the helm of the institution responsible for coordinating and driving administrative efficiency across Nigeria’s federal government.
Enitan, who is from Osun State, is currently the Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Education and is the most senior Permanent Secretary in the Federal Civil Service. He has served in the rank for seven years and seven months.
During his career as a Permanent Secretary, Enitan has worked at the Ministry of Police Affairs, the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and the Office of the Vice President, giving him extensive experience across key areas of government administration.
The Presidency said his appointment reflects his considerable institutional experience and deep understanding of the operations of the Federal Civil Service.
President Tinubu commended Walson-Jack for her service to Nigeria, particularly the reforms, innovations and institutional improvements recorded in the Civil Service during her tenure.
The President wished her a fulfilling post-retirement life and expressed the nation’s appreciation for her years of dedicated public service.
Tinubu also tasked Enitan with consolidating ongoing reforms and innovations in the Civil Service while strengthening professionalism, efficiency and accountability across the federal bureaucracy.
The President urged the incoming Head of Service to build a Civil Service that is merit-driven, innovative, responsive and capable of delivering more effectively on the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
He further charged Enitan to ensure that the federal bureaucracy remains focused on meeting the needs and aspirations of Nigerians.
Who Is Abel Olumuyiwa Enitan?
Enitan was born on December 12, 1966. He received his secondary education at Ajibode Grammar School, Ibadan, and the College of Arts and Science, Ile-Ife.
He proceeded to the University of Lagos, where he obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance and Banking in 1988.
In 2015, he earned a Master of Science degree in Public Policy Analysis from Nasarawa State University, Keffi.
His appointment comes as the Tinubu administration continues efforts to reform Nigeria’s public sector and improve the effectiveness, professionalism and responsiveness of government institutions.
