Abel Enitan Replaces Walson-Jack as Head of Civil Service as Tinubu Lauds Outgoing HOS
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Abel Olumuyiwa Enitan as the new Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, with the appointment taking effect from August 27, 2026, as he succeeds Didi Esther Walson-Jack, who retires upon attaining the statutory retirement age of 60. The announcement was made on Wednesday in a statement issued by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, confirming that Enitan, an indigene of Osun State, is currently the most senior Permanent Secretary in the Federal Civil Service, having served in that capacity for seven years and seven months.
Enitan brings extensive institutional knowledge to his new role, having served as Permanent Secretary in several strategic government institutions, with his previous postings including the Ministry of Police Affairs, the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, and the Office of the Vice President, while he is currently the Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Education. The Presidency noted that his experience across critical arms of the Federal Government has equipped him with considerable institutional knowledge and a deep understanding of the operations and challenges of the Federal Civil Service, positioning him well to lead the bureaucracy at this critical time.
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President Tinubu charged the incoming Head of the Civil Service to consolidate the reforms and innovations already underway in the Civil Service and to further strengthen professionalism and efficiency across government ministries, departments and agencies, specifically tasking Enitan with building a more effective and responsive Civil Service capable of delivering the objectives of the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda. He further urged Enitan to lead a Civil Service that is professional, merit-driven, accountable, innovative and responsive to Nigerians’ needs and aspirations, setting a clear expectation for the kind of leadership required to transform the federal bureaucracy.
President Tinubu expressed profound appreciation to Mrs Walson-Jack for what he described as her distinguished service to the nation, stating that the outgoing Head of Service contributed significantly to reforms, innovations and improvements recorded in the Civil Service during her tenure. The President wished her a fulfilling and successful life after retirement and conveyed the nation’s gratitude for her years of dedicated and impactful public service, acknowledging her contributions to the development of the civil service.
Enitan was born on December 12, 1966, and had his secondary education at Ajibode Grammar School, Ibadan, and the College of Arts and Science, Ile-Ife, before proceeding to the University of Lagos, where he graduated in 1988 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance and Banking, and later obtained a Master of Science degree in Public Policy Analysis from Nasarawa State University, Lafia, in 2015. Enitan will formally assume office on August 27, 2026, following Walson-Jack’s retirement, and his appointment places a career civil servant with extensive experience across several ministries and government offices at the helm of the Federal Civil Service as the Tinubu administration continues to implement its reform agenda.