Abel Enitan Head Of Civil Service: Tinubu Appoints New Federation Chief
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the appointment of Mr Abel Olumuyiwa Enitan as the new Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HoCSF), effective August 27, 2026.
The announcement was made public on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, in an official State House press statement issued by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy. Mr Enitan succeeds Mrs Didi Esther Walson-Jack, who is set to step down from the Federal Civil Service upon attaining the statutory retirement age of 60.
Hailing from Osun State, Mr Enitan enters the role as the most senior Permanent Secretary within the Federal Civil Service. His career in public administration features over seven years and seven months of experience as a Permanent Secretary, during which he oversaw administrative functions across multiple ministries and offices. He has served in that capacity at the Ministry of Police Affairs, the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, and the Office of the Vice President, and is currently the Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Education.
On his academic background, Mr Enitan was born on December 12, 1966. He completed his secondary education at Ajibode Grammar School in Ibadan before proceeding to the College of Arts and Science, Ile-Ife. He pursued higher education at the University of Lagos, graduating in 1988 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance and Banking. In 2015, Enitan obtained an M.Sc. in Public Policy Analysis from Nasarawa State University, Lafia.
Announcing the appointment, the Presidency described Enitan as bringing “considerable institutional experience and a deep understanding of how the Federal Civil Service works to his new responsibility.”
President Tinubu also used the statement to acknowledge the outgoing Head of Service, with the Presidency noting that Tinubu expressed profound appreciation to Walson-Jack for her distinguished service to the nation and for the reforms, impact and innovations witnessed in the Civil Service during her tenure, wishing her a fulfilling and successful life after service.
Outlining expectations for the incoming Head of Service, President Tinubu charged the incoming Head of the Civil Service of the Federation to consolidate on the reforms and innovations already underway, deepen professionalism and efficiency across the service, and build a more effective and responsive Civil Service capable of delivering on the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda. The President further urged Mr Enitan to lead a Civil Service that is professional, merit-driven, accountable, innovative, and responsive to Nigerians’ needs and aspirations.
Walson-Jack, whose tenure formally ends around the same date Enitan takes over, was herself appointed to the position in August 2024 by President Tinubu, succeeding former Head of Service Dr Folasade Yemi-Esan. Enitan’s elevation places another Osun State-born official in a senior federal role, coming in the same week the state featured prominently in national headlines following its closely contested governorship election.
The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation is a key administrative office responsible for overseeing the operations, welfare and reform agenda of Nigeria’s federal bureaucracy, working alongside the Federal Civil Service Commission to manage personnel matters across ministries, departments and agencies. Enitan’s appointment is expected to bring continuity to ongoing reform efforts within the civil service, given his extensive background navigating multiple ministries during his tenure as Permanent Secretary. As of the time of filing, Enitan had not issued personal remarks on his appointment, with further details expected as he formally assumes office later this month.
About the Author
