President Bola Tinubu has sworn in Abel Enitan as the new Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.
Enitan took over from Didi Walson-Jack at a brief ceremony held on Thursday at the State House in Abuja, following her retirement from the federal civil service after reaching the mandatory retirement age of 60.
The formal transition of power was also conducted at the State House, where Walson-Jack and Enitan signed the necessary documents before the former Head of Service presented her handover note to her successor.
Walson-Jack said the document covered her tenure from August 14, 2024, to August 27, 2026.
The handover marked the official commencement of Enitan’s tenure as the nation’s top civil servant.
Enitan, an indigene of Osun State, is the most senior Permanent Secretary in the Federal Civil Service. He had spent seven years and seven months as a Permanent Secretary before his appointment.
He previously served at the Ministry of Police Affairs, Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and the Office of the Vice President. He was later appointed Permanent Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Education.
Tinubu had approved Enitan’s appointment on August 19, 2026, with the appointment taking effect on August 27.
The President, while announcing the appointment, described Enitan as an experienced public servant with extensive knowledge of the workings of the Federal Civil Service.
Tinubu tasked him with sustaining ongoing reforms and innovations in the civil service while strengthening professionalism, efficiency and accountability.
He also charged the new Head of Service to build a public service that is merit-driven, innovative and responsive to the needs of Nigerians.
The President commended Walson-Jack for her contributions to the federal civil service, particularly the reforms and innovations recorded 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, before earning a B.Sc. in Finance and Banking from the University of Lagos in 1988.
He later obtained a Master’s degree in Public Policy Analysis from Nasarawa State University in 2015.
