By Nkechi Eze
The Federal Government has formally inaugurated the Personnel Audit and Skill Gap Analysis Project (PASGA), also known as Project Phoenix, a comprehensive reform initiative designed to enhance human resource management, strengthen performance, and optimise workforce capacity across all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
According to an official statement signed by the Director of Information and Public Relations, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF), Segun Imohiosen, the event marked a pivotal step in the Federal Government’s broader agenda to reposition the public service for greater efficiency, accountability, and innovation in service delivery.
Delivering the keynote address on behalf of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, CON, the Permanent Secretary, General Services Office, Mohammed Sanusi Danjuma, underscored the strategic importance of PASGA in building a competent and future-ready civil service.
He stated that “In today’s fast-paced and competitive environment, it is essential to ensure our workforce is equipped with the right skills, knowledge, competence, and drive to succeed. Personnel audit and organisational analysis are critical tools for institutional growth as they help identify gaps, training needs, and workforce optimisation opportunities.”
Senator Akume further noted that the project will not only enhance performance management and leadership development but also strengthen decision-making and human capital planning across the public sector. “By understanding our workforce’s strengths and weaknesses, we can unlock potential, drive performance, and achieve our national goals,” he added.
Unveiling Project Phoenix, the Permanent Secretary of the Ecological Project Office, Dr. Aishetu Gogo Ndayako, described the initiative as “an innovative endeavour undertaken by the Federal Government to revitalise and reposition the Federal Civil Service for improved service delivery and futuristic output.”
Dr. Ndayako commended the collaboration between public institutions and private sector experts in developing the project framework, adding that Project Phoenix represents a bold and strategic move towards data-driven governance and workforce transformation.
In a demonstration of the Project Phoenix interface, the Senior Managing Partner and Chief Executive Officer of KnewRow Consulting, Mr. Ayo Muritala, explained that the project goes beyond verification to serve as a “reform instrument” that provides government with accurate data on the personnel who power the civil service.
He stated: “Project Phoenix is not just a verification exercise; it is about data, identity, capabilities, and national performance. As we take banner under Project Phoenix, we are collectively reaffirming that the civil service is rising anew into a future defined by credible data, aligned skills, and improved performance.”
Muritala further assured that the exercise would be fully inclusive, transparent, and accessible to all public servants, both within and outside Nigeria. “Over the coming weeks, our team has been fully mobilised to reach colleagues outside Abuja and outside the country. Every staff member will be reached, and every record will be validated. There will be no need to travel to the capital for verification,” he said.
The launch of Project Phoenix reaffirms the Federal Government’s renewed commitment to modernising the civil service through digital transformation, accurate data management, and the alignment of human capital development with national priorities, all key components of the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
