The newly assigned Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Mrs Didi Walson-Jack has assumed office at the Ministry’s headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday.
Walson-Jack was redeployed from the Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation after the retirement of the former permanent secretary in the ministry, Mr David Adejo.
Addressing staff of the ministry, she promised an excellence and quality service delivery in the education sector.
She also promised a more lasting trajectory for the country’s progressive development.
“At the heart of the work we do in this ministry must be the eight priorities of President Bola Tinubu’s administration (2023-2027).
”The ministerial mandate, which the ministers and the permanent secretary have committed to as key deliverables of the ministry: the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan 2021-2025 (FCSSIP25).
“Approved by the Federal Executive Council and the Public Service Rules (PSR).
“Extant Circulars, Rules, Regulations, Laws, and the core principles and values of the Federal Civil Service as epitomised in the FCSSIP25 being driven by our visionary and indefatigable Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr Folasade Yemi-Esan also serve as a guide in our work.
”In line with the Strategic Plan, we should aim to improve the quality of public service delivery, providing a more lasting trajectory for the country’s progressive development,” she said.
She said the actualisation of the goals and aspirations of the strategic plan would change the narrative associated with the public sector as one dominated by poor performance, stagnation, and self-interest in contrast to the values of excellence and productivity.
“Our ability to achieve these goals would take the ministry back to the days when Nigerian Public Service workers offered robust contributions, pioneered, and implemented some of the strongest and community driven projects and programmes in the history of our country.
“We must acknowledge that all the work we do in this ministry is first for Almighty God and second for the Federal Government and the good people of Nigeria.
”It follows, therefore, that any inefficiency incompetence, infraction, or dereliction of duty impacts the people directly and increases their suffering.
“Consequently, we must focus on using education to foster the development of all Nigerian citizens to their full potential in promoting a strong, democratic, egalitarian, prosperous, indivisible, and indivisible sovereign nation under God,” she added.
Walson-Jack, however, promised to provide the expertise and administrative framework, act as the engine room to support the political leadership of the ministers and the federal government to achieve the ministry’s mandate.
She, therefore, implored everyone to work to uphold the wisdom, excellence and good reputation of the public service and promote the principles of good governance.
Welcoming the new permanent secretary, the Director overseeing the office of the permanent secretary, Zubairu Abdullahi assured Walson-Jack of total support to take education to the higher level.
Abdullahi added that the task before the new permanent secretary was to ensure education service delivery which required maximum supports from all stakeholders.
Walson-Jack holds a Bachelor of Law degree from the University of Lagos and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1987.
She was first appointed as a Permanent Secretary in 2017 by then President Muhammadu Buhari.
Walson-Jack has demonstrated an exceptional leadership and commitment in various capacities as Permanent Secretary in the Service Welfare Office of the Office of the Head Of Service of the Civil Service of the Federation.
She has also worked as permanent secretary, Federal Ministries of Niger Delta Affairs, Power, and Water Resources and Sanitation. (NAN)
