The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Didi Esther Walson-Jack, yesterday launched two books documenting her 34-year career in public service. The books, I Planted: A Memoir of Purposeful Service and Beyond the Mandate: A Memoir on Leadership, Legacy & Labour of Public Service, were presented at an event in Abuja. Walson-Jack […]
The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Didi Esther Walson-Jack, yesterday launched two books documenting her 34-year career in public service.
The books, I Planted: A Memoir of Purposeful Service and Beyond the Mandate: A Memoir on Leadership, Legacy & Labour of Public Service, were presented at an event in Abuja.
Walson-Jack said the books captured experiences, reforms and lessons from her career, which began with her National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) posting to Rivers State in 1992.
She said I Planted focused on her efforts to develop institutions, improve systems and mentor younger officers during her various assignments.
“Thirty-four years is long enough to plant institutions, systems and people, and to watch some of them grow taller than you. It is also long enough to make mistakes, to learn, to be humbled,” she said.
Walson-Jack said Beyond the Mandate examined the responsibilities of public servants beyond the formal requirements of their offices, including developing people, strengthening institutions and preserving institutional knowledge.
She, however, said the books did not cover her tenure as Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.
“These two books do not tell the story of my tenure as the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation. That is a story that will be told at another day,” she said.
Representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh, said the civil service remained central to the implementation and continuity of government policies.
He said political leadership could change, but the civil service was expected to retain the institutional memory and technical capacity required to sustain government.
Udeh said the Federal Government was implementing reforms to improve efficiency, accountability and service delivery in the public sector.
He said the government expected the civil service to move beyond routine administration towards measurable results and improved services for citizens.
Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, who was the chief presenter of I Planted, said Walson-Jack’s career included assignments involving the establishment and development of public institutions.
Representing Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, the Deputy Governor, Dr Ngozi Nma Odu, said Walson-Jack introduced structured quarterly engagements with organised labour during her service in the state.
Odu said the engagements provided a channel for resolving disagreements between government and labour through dialogue.
