By Nkechi Eze
The Federal Government has introduced new measures aimed at strengthening and professionalising Human Resource (HR) practice across the Federal Public Service, with the mandatory adoption of recognised HR certifications and a structured transition framework for affected officers.
According to an official circular issued by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, OON, mni, the reforms are in furtherance of earlier service-wide directives on the professionalisation of HR management in the Federal Civil Service, as contained in Circulars Ref No. HCSF/CMO/PMD/035/1/64 of 31st August 2023 and Ref No. HCSF/SPSO/ODD/CND/100/S.1/195 of 21st March 2024.
The circular defines Human Resource roles in Ministries, Extra-Ministerial Departments and Agencies as encompassing workforce planning and recruitment, onboarding, employee records management, performance management, career progression, training and capacity development, staff welfare and compensation, discipline, employee and industrial relations, as well as exit management and other related functions as may be approved by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.
Under the new framework, only HR professional certifications obtained from approved bodies will be recognised for deployment into HR roles across the service. These include the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (CIPM), the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) of the United Kingdom, the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) of the United States, the Human Resource Certification Institute (HRCI) of the United States, and Chartered Professionals in Human Resources (CPHR) of Canada, as well as any other body that may be approved by the OHCSF from time to time.
The circular further grants a 12-month moratorium period for affected officers to obtain the required certifications. During this transition period, officers may continue in their roles or be redeployed, provided they present verifiable evidence of enrolment and demonstrable progress towards certification within six months of the issuance of the circular.
It also stipulates that upon expiration of the moratorium, possession of an approved HR certification will become a mandatory requirement for deployment into key HR-related offices, including Human Resource Departments across the service, the Career Management Office, the Service Policies and Strategies Office, the Service Welfare Office within the OHCSF, and the Federal Civil Service Commission.
The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation stated that the policy takes immediate effect and directed all Ministries, Extra-Ministerial Departments and Agencies to bring its contents to the attention of relevant officers for strict compliance and guidance.
