The Federal Government of Nigeria has commenced a comprehensive personnel audit of civil servants aimed at capturing the Bank Verification Numbers (BVN) and National Identification Numbers (NIN) of all employees.
The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF), Didi Walson-Jack, disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja by the Director of Information and Public Relations at the HCSF office, Mrs Eno Olotu.
According to Walson-Jack, the initiative forms part of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and is designed to build a modern and efficient civil service.
She explained that the audit would not only assess the size, structure, and competencies of the workforce but also identify the skills required to meet future service delivery demands.
A central element of the programme is the creation of a verified digital database of civil servants, linked to both BVNs and NINs. This, she noted, would help eradicate ghost workers, correct irregularities in personnel records, and provide an accurate picture of the workforce.
“The initiative will also identify skills gaps in critical areas such as ICT, project management, public finance and data analysis,” the statement added.
Walson-Jack further announced that she would chair a steering committee to oversee the process.
The committee will comprise key permanent secretaries, the Accountant-General of the Federation, the Director-General of the Budget Office, representatives from the Presidency, as well as relevant consultants.
The personnel audit is expected to enhance transparency, accountability, and efficiency within Nigeria’s civil service, while positioning the public sector to better meet the country’s developmental needs.
