President Bola Tinubu has sworn in Abel Enitan as the new Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.
Enitan took the oath on Thursday at a brief ceremony at the State House in Abuja, formally taking over from Didi Walson-Jack, who retired after reaching the statutory retirement age of 60.
The official handover also took place on Thursday. Walson-Jack and Enitan signed the necessary documents before the outgoing Head of Service handed over her note to her successor.
While presenting the document, Walson-Jack said, “To hand over to the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mr Enitan Abel, her handover note for the period covering Wednesday 14th August 2024 to 27 August 2026.”
The two officials later shook hands, marking the formal transfer of duties.
Enitan, an indigene of Osun State, is the most senior Permanent Secretary in the Federal Civil Service. He spent seven years and seven months as a Permanent Secretary before his new appointment.
He previously served at the Ministry of Police Affairs, Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and the Office of the Vice President. He later became Permanent Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Education.
Tinubu appointed Enitan on August 19, 2026, with the appointment taking effect on August 27.
The President said Enitan “brings considerable institutional experience and a deep understanding of how the Federal Civil Service works to his new responsibility.”
Tinubu asked him to build on ongoing reforms, improve professionalism and efficiency, and make the service more effective and responsive. He also urged him to lead a Civil Service that is “professional, merit-driven, accountable, innovative, and responsive to Nigerians’ needs and aspirations.”
Tinubu thanked Walson-Jack for her service and the “reforms, impact and innovations witnessed in the Civil Service during her tenure.”
Enitan was born on December 12, 1966. He attended Ajibode Grammar School, Ibadan, and the College of Arts and Science, Ile-Ife. He earned a B.Sc. in Finance and Banking from the University of Lagos in 1988 and an M.Sc. in Public Policy Analysis from Nasarawa State University in 2015.
