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The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Didi Esther Walson-Jack, has commended the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) for the institutional reforms it has undertaken in recent years, describing the commission as one of the Federal Government’s leading agencies in digital identity management and human capital development.
Walson-Jack gave the commendation on Monday during a meeting with the management of NIMC in Abuja, where she also called for closer collaboration between the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) and the commission to deepen digital identity integration and advance ongoing public service reforms.
The Head of Service specifically praised the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of NIMC, Engr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote, for driving reforms that have repositioned the commission, particularly through the successful implementation of the new NIMC Act and the approval of the agency’s long-awaited Scheme of Service.
“There is nothing like working with an obsolete law. It pulls you back. You can’t do the things you want to do. Kudos to you and your team. We are happy to have approved the Scheme of Service, and we believe it will add value to the civil service, the public service and especially to NIMC,” Walson-Jack said.
She noted that NIMC’s five-point transformation agenda aligns closely with the Federal Government’s public service reform initiatives, particularly in the areas of human capital development, digital transformation, institutional excellence and capacity building.
“I am so excited to hear all that you are doing. The working tools, the training, the capacity building, the HR reforms, you have done remarkably well. I am also impressed that you found it necessary to engage retired Permanent Secretaries. Other agencies should emulate this approach,” she stated.
Walson-Jack described a credible national identity system as critical to effective governance, efficient public service delivery and evidence-based policymaking, stressing that stronger collaboration between both institutions would accelerate the Federal Government’s digital transformation agenda.
To that end, she directed senior officials from both organisations to begin discussions on areas of cooperation that would culminate in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening institutional collaboration.
Responding, Coker-Odusote expressed appreciation to the Head of the Civil Service for approving NIMC’s Scheme of Service, revealing that the commission had pursued the approval for nearly two decades.
“I have been requesting this since 2007, and you are the Head of Service who approved it for us. Thank you so much. This aligns perfectly with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the Federal Government’s public service reforms,” she said.
The NIMC Director-General explained that since assuming office, the commission has pursued a reform agenda built around five strategic pillars: human capital development, institutional excellence, technology-driven operations, global competitiveness and improved service delivery.
According to her, the commission also aligned its internal reforms with the Performance Management System introduced by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation as part of broader efforts to improve accountability and service delivery across the public sector.
Coker-Odusote said the commission inherited manual staff appraisal processes, weak performance monitoring systems and limited alignment between individual performance and institutional objectives, necessitating comprehensive reforms in its human resource management framework.
She disclosed that in October 2025, NIMC introduced the Employee Performance Management System through performance contracts signed with directors and heads of departments, supported by measurable Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), quarterly performance reviews and technology-enabled monitoring mechanisms.
“We have trained over 600 headquarters staff and almost 4,000 personnel across more than 200 enrolment centres nationwide. Today, over 85 per cent of the implementation activities have been completed, while our Human Resource Information System has automated appraisals, promotions, pensions and staff records,” she said.
She maintained that NIMC’s reform journey demonstrates the importance of visionary leadership, technology adoption and institutional accountability in transforming public institutions.
“We remain committed to supporting broader public service reforms and collaborating closely with the Office of the Head of the Civil Service, particularly on identity integration and institutional strengthening in line with the NIMC Act 2026,” Coker-Odusote said.
The meeting underscored ongoing efforts by the Federal Government to modernise public institutions through digital transformation, stronger governance frameworks and enhanced collaboration among key agencies. It also reflects the growing role of the National Identity Management Commission in supporting national planning, service delivery, financial inclusion and the broader digital economy through a credible and integrated identity management system.
