The Federal Ministry of Defence has commenced a sensitisation programme for directors, Service Improvement Officers and other key personnel as part of efforts to deepen ongoing Federal Civil Service reforms aimed at improving efficiency, accountability and service delivery across the Ministry.
According to an official statement signed by Enderline Chukwu, Deputy Director (Information and Public Relations), for the Director (Information and Public Relations), the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. Richard Pheelangwah, urged participants to embrace the reform initiatives as a strategic pathway to building a more transparent, professional and citizen-centred public service.
Speaking at the opening of the programme held at the Ministry’s headquarters, Ship House, Abuja, Pheelangwah said the sensitisation aligns with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the reform initiatives of the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, which seek to transform the Federal Civil Service into a professional, innovative and results-driven institution.
He identified the Federal Civil Service Mentoring Programme, the Enhanced Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) Self-Service Platform, and the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan (FCSSIP) 2025–2030 as the three major reform initiatives being promoted through the programme.
The Permanent Secretary explained that the mentoring programme is designed to facilitate the transfer of institutional knowledge from experienced officers to younger personnel, thereby preserving institutional memory and preparing a new generation of competent public service leaders.
He added that the enhanced IPPIS Self-Service Platform represents a significant step in the digital transformation of the Civil Service by enabling officers to securely manage and update their personnel and payroll records, reducing administrative bottlenecks and improving operational efficiency.
Pheelangwah also said the FCSSIP 2025–2030 provides a comprehensive framework for strengthening institutional capacity through innovation, accountability, performance management, staff development, digital governance and evidence-based decision-making to improve service delivery across Ministries, Departments and Agencies.
Highlighting the importance of the reforms to the Ministry of Defence, he noted that as the administrative backbone of Nigeria’s defence architecture, the Ministry must continually strengthen its internal processes to support effective policy implementation, sound personnel management, institutional governance and national security.
He charged Service Improvement Officers, Service Charter Officers and Departmental Focal Officers to champion the reform agenda by sharing the knowledge gained during the programme, promoting the mentoring initiative, encouraging the effective use of the enhanced IPPIS platform, ensuring compliance with Service Charter standards and driving practical service improvement initiatives within their respective departments.
Pheelangwah stressed that sustainable service improvement requires not only policy reforms but also a positive organisational culture anchored on professionalism, integrity, innovation, reduced bureaucracy, prompt service delivery and commitment to excellence.
He commended the Department of Reform Coordination and Service Improvement for organising the programme and encouraged participants to actively engage in the sessions and apply the knowledge acquired to improve operational efficiency across the Ministry.
Earlier, the Director of Reform Coordination and Service Improvement, Mrs. Ogidi-Paul I.H., FDC, said the sensitisation programme was organised to deepen participants’ understanding of the relaunched Enhanced IPPIS Self-Service Platform and equip them with the practical knowledge needed to maximise its benefits.
She also expressed appreciation to the Permanent Secretary for supporting the initiative, which featured presentations on the Federal Civil Service Mentoring Programme, the Enhanced IPPIS Self-Service Platform and the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan (FCSSIP).
