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Olaopa Says FCSC and OHCSF are Siamese twins with shared roles and responsibilities

Published

12 months ago

October 14, 2025

…. Calls for holistic review of the civil service disciplinary control

Joel Ajayi

The Chairman, Federal Civil Service Commission, Prof. Tunji Olaopa has described the relationship between the Commission and the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) as a Siamese twin.

He explained that the shared roles and responsibilities of the organisations to implement policies, rules and regulations, gatekeeping and provide leadership for the civil service in Nigeria explained this.

He stated this on Monday in Abuja at a one-day joint retreat between the Commission and the OHCSF held at the Office of the National Security Adviser Complex, Abuja. Olaopa said there was a thin line in the shared central governance responsibilities of the two offices, and there are bound to be some measures of conflict and tension around the boundaries of roles, jurisdictions and operations in actual practice; saying that the retreat was organized to enables open communication, regular meeting and dialogue, problem-solving, co-creation, sharing and learning in an atmosphere that helps prevent misunderstanding, build trust and foster strategic partnership.

The event, with the theme, “Enhancing Collaboration for an Efficient and Productive Civil Service in Nigeria,” was the first joint retreat between the FCSC and OHCSF aimed at bridging operational and policy gaps between the two organisations.

The Chairman, who was at the event with his Hon. Commissioners, Permanent secretary and other management staff, called for holistic review of disciplinary control in the civil service to drive deep-seated culture change, value reorientation and reverse the delays handling of disciplinary in the service.

While appreciating OHCSF for organizing the retreat, he said that the two institutions were renowned for synergy and partnership in their operations considering the past evidence of competition between the them which is unhealthy for the service.

He noted that under the present leadership of the two organisations, there have been mutual understanding, meaningful consultation and shared vision in the corporate governance, implementation of reforms and change management in public service; saying that reprofiling of existing public service policy architecture and institutional capability to help government harness public private partnerships (PPP) in order to enhance infrastructure investment financing and to boost public service delivery was key.

The Chairman emphasized the need to rethink the nexus between merit, competency-based human resource practices, performance management, and the wage and remuneration structure of the civil service as part of drive to restore the status of government as employer of choice in the industry.

While also calling for a regular meeting of this nature, Olaopa further stated that the one-day retreat cannot fully cover various issues to be discussed as more of this retreat needed to be organized.

Speaking earlier, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF), Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, said the maiden retreat represents another engagement between the two organisations, saying that it was a renewal of partnership. She said the event was a deliberate and timely effort to build stronger bridges, deepen collaboration, and align their shared purpose in service to the Nigerian people.

She eulogized Olaopa for his unwavering support and encouragement in all her reform activities, adding that he was a dependable ally in this great responsibility of transforming the Federal Civil Service. Jack said the cordial relationship between the two institutions was a reflection of shared belief that progress is only possible when we work together, not apart.

Jack commended Olaopa on the launch of Commission’s five-year Strategic Plan, including the adoption of Computer-Based Test for promotion exams and merit-based recruitment that will lead to a greater transparency.

In his remark, the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Ndiomu Ebiogeh Phillip said the retreat would further cement the synergy between the two offices and reposition the public service as a forward-thinking, people-cantered and performance-driven institution that is fully equipped to meet the challenges of today and anticipate the needs of tomorrow. He commended both Olaopa and Jack for organizing the event, and expressed that more of this should be organized regularly.

Ambassador Mustapha Lawal Suleiman in his keynote address titled, “Building stronger collaboration for a high performing civil service”, called for Institutional synergy between FCSC and OHCSF where core mandates of the Commission are conducted with a representative from the Head of Service to synchronize policy in the service.

He emphasized mutual understanding, open communication and a shared sense of responsibility between the organisations so that they can function together seamlessly not only to deliver on their national mandates but to collectively enhance the performance of the public service.

The high point of the event was the establishment of a team comprising members from FCSC and OHCSF to develop retreat talking points that would be built upon in the subsequent retreat. The retreat also involved 1st and 2nd discussion sessions, moderated by Dr. Francisca Odeka (OHCSF Consultant) and Ambassador Mustapha Lawal Suleiman (Keynote speaker), focused on bridging gaps and x-raying areas of concern. Other highlights were the executive session, where comments, observations and Q&A were entertained.

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Eagle Times Newspaper Will Be Voice for Nigerians – Publisher Chukwunyere Vows

Published

8 hours ago

October 2, 2026

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

The Publisher of The Eagle Times Nigeria, Sir Ikechukwu Chukwunyere, has pledged that the newspaper will promote accountability, credible journalism and public-interest reporting in its coverage of national affairs.
Chukwunyere made the commitment on Thursday, October 1, 2026, during the official unveiling and launch of The Eagle Times Nigeria.

He said the new media organisation was established not merely to add another newspaper to Nigeria’s media landscape, but to provide a platform committed to serving the public interest.

According to him, the newspaper’s guiding philosophy, “The Voice for the People, The Watchdog for the Nation,” places a responsibility on the organisation to listen to Nigerians, tell their stories, highlight issues affecting their daily lives and scrutinise those entrusted with public responsibilities.

“To be a voice for the people means that we must listen to Nigerians, tell their stories, highlight their concerns and give visibility to issues that affect their daily lives,” he said.

The publisher added that The Eagle Times would be guided by accuracy, fairness, professionalism, credibility and responsible journalism, stressing that the newspaper would not publish stories merely because they were sensational.

“We will verify. We will investigate. We will seek the other side. We will correct our mistakes when we make them,” he said.

Chukwunyere further stated that the newspaper would endeavour to give individuals and organisations the opportunity to respond whenever allegations were made against them.
“Our commitment is not to any political party, government or individual. Our primary commitment is to journalism, to truth and to the Nigerian public,” he said.

He noted that the newspaper was launching at a time when the media industry was undergoing rapid transformation, with audiences increasingly consuming news through digital platforms, including websites, television, podcasts and social media.

He said The Eagle Times would therefore operate as a multimedia organisation, combining its newspaper with digital platforms and The Eagle Times TV to reach audiences across different channels.

According to him, the organisation also intends to create opportunities for young journalists, writers, photographers, producers, digital creators and other media professionals to develop their skills and contribute to journalism and national development.

Chukwunyere said the newspaper’s coverage would include politics, governance, business, economy, security, judiciary, education, health, technology, sports, entertainment, lifestyle and international affairs.

He, however, said the organisation intended to distinguish itself not only by the subjects it covered but by the quality and approach of its journalism.

We want to tell stories that matter, we want to investigate issues that require investigation, we want to highlight Nigerians who are making a difference, and we want to give communities that are often ignored an opportunity to be heard,” he said.

The publisher acknowledged the challenges involved in establishing a newspaper, saying the venture required investment, commitment, professional discipline and the courage to pursue an idea.

He expressed appreciation to the management, editorial, reporting, production and digital teams, as well as families, friends, partners and supporters who contributed to the establishment of the organisation.

Chukwunyere also assured readers, viewers and the newspaper’s digital audience that The Eagle Times would strive to earn their trust and remain accountable to the standards it had set for itself.

He said the newspaper’s success would not be measured only by circulation figures, website traffic or social media followers, but also by the confidence Nigerians placed in its journalism.

“Today, we spread our wings. Today, The Eagle Times takes flight,” he said, reaffirming the newspaper’s commitment to its slogan: “The Voice for the People, The Watchdog for the Nation.”

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