NEWS
FG Opens Permanent Secretary Offices to Senior Directors in New Civil Service Leadership Reform
The Federal Government has introduced a new leadership arrangement in the Federal Civil Service that will give substantive directors greater exposure to high-level administrative responsibilities, including the opportunity to oversee the offices of permanent secretaries during periods of absence.
The initiative, approved as part of the government’s ongoing civil service reform programme, is aimed at strengthening leadership capacity, improving institutional continuity and developing a stronger pool of senior officers capable of taking on higher responsibilities within the public service.
The new framework was contained in a circular dated August 24, 2026, issued by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation and addressed to permanent secretaries, heads of federal agencies and other senior government officials.
Under the arrangement, substantive directors who serve as heads of departments will participate in a rotational system for overseeing the Office of the Permanent Secretary. The rotation will begin with the most senior eligible director.
The arrangement is expected to take effect whenever a permanent secretary is away from Abuja, proceeds on leave or is otherwise unavailable for more than one day.
The Federal Government said the initiative is primarily designed to expose directors to the realities of higher-level public administration while preparing them for potential leadership responsibilities in the future.
According to the circular, the framework will give participating directors “practical exposure to executive decision-making and conflict resolution and the effective management of ministerial responsibilities.”
The government further explained that the arrangement would allow senior directors to gain “a broader understanding of ministerial operations, policies, programmes and projects, with particular emphasis on institutional coordination and teamwork.”
Beyond leadership exposure, the new system places strong emphasis on accountability, reporting and a seamless transfer of responsibilities.
The circular makes proper reporting and handover compulsory to ensure that government operations are not disrupted whenever one director takes over from another.
“Participation in the overseeing framework shall be limited to substantive directors who are heads of departments, and it provides for mandatory reporting, proper handover and continuity between successive overseeing directors, where applicable,” the circular stated.
The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation also directed permanent secretaries and chief executive officers of federal agencies to ensure that the policy is communicated to relevant personnel and strictly implemented.
The latest move reflects the Federal Government’s broader effort to create a more professional, efficient and sustainable civil service by investing in the leadership capabilities of senior officers.
For years, permanent secretaries have played a central role in coordinating ministries, implementing government policies and ensuring continuity in administration. The new framework provides senior directors with an opportunity to gain first-hand experience in some of these responsibilities whenever the permanent secretary is temporarily unavailable.
The arrangement is also expected to contribute to stronger succession planning by helping the government identify and prepare experienced officers who possess the administrative capacity required for higher positions.
Officials believe that exposing directors to executive decision-making, institutional coordination and ministerial administration could strengthen institutional memory and reduce disruptions that may arise from the temporary absence of senior accounting officers.
However, the framework does not mean that directors who participate in the rotational arrangement will automatically become permanent secretaries.
Instead, the policy is structured as a leadership-development and succession-planning mechanism, giving eligible directors practical experience while maintaining the established procedures for the appointment of permanent secretaries.
With the latest reform, the Federal Civil Service is placing greater emphasis on preparing its senior workforce for the demands of modern public administration and ensuring that government business continues uninterrupted regardless of the temporary absence of key officials.