The Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) has announced the immediate commencement of a comprehensive verification exercise for all federal civil service personnel, beginning Thursday, October 16, 2025, and running through Friday, November 14, 2025. This initiative, aimed at modernizing workforce management amid Nigeria’s ongoing public sector reforms, will involve partnerships with Philips Consulting and other human resources firms to ensure accuracy and efficiency.

 

The exercise, directed by Head of Service Dr. Didi Walson-Jack, is a cornerstone of the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan 2021–2025. It seeks to:
– Verify and Update Personnel Records: Confirm the identity, employment status, and details of over 720,000 federal workers to eliminate ghost employees and outdated entries.
– Identify Skills and Capacity Gaps: Assess competencies across ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) to inform targeted training and development.
– Support Workforce Planning and Reforms: Provide data-driven insights for strategic deployment, succession planning, and resource allocation, addressing inefficiencies highlighted in recent Bureau of Public Service Reforms reports.

“This foundational reform will deliver a credible, verifiable database that captures not just numbers, but skills and workforce distribution,” Walson-Jack stated in an internal memo obtained by Punch Newspaper on October 6, 2025.

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The verification extends to all MDAs, extra-ministerial departments, agencies, and offices across the federation, including diaspora postings, ensuring nationwide coverage.

 

Operational Details

The process will unfold daily from 8:00 a.m., with civil servants required to present themselves in person at designated venues within their MDAs or offices. Firms like Philips Consulting will deploy biometric tools, digital platforms, and on-site verification teams to streamline operations, minimizing disruptions while capturing essential biometrics, qualifications, and performance metrics.

All participants are enjoined to cooperate fully by providing accurate information, including valid identification, employment contracts, and recent performance evaluations. Non-compliance could lead to temporary salary suspensions or further scrutiny, as seen in prior IPPIS (Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System) audits that uncovered thousands of irregularities.

 

This aligns with broader 2025 reforms, including the National Credential Verification Service (NCVS) launched in March, which mandates certificate checks starting October 6, 2025, to combat fake qualifications—a move spurred by scandals like the 2022 verification that weeded out 50,000 ghost workers.

 

Reactions and Implications

The announcement has elicited mixed responses from unions and analysts. The Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) welcomed the transparency but urged safeguards against hardship, with President Tommy Etim Okon stating, “This is vital for efficiency, but workers must not bear undue burdens.” Critics, including the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), fear it could unearth more layoffs amid economic pressures, with 2024’s IPPIS exercise resulting in 10,000 payroll cleanups.

 

Experts like Prof. Tunji Olaopa, CEO of the Bureau of Public Service Reforms, praised the timing: “In a post-COVID era with digital tools like BVAS, this verification is overdue for a leaner, skilled civil service.” The exercise could save billions in ghost salaries, redirecting funds to infrastructure under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

As Nigeria navigates fiscal constraints—with federal debt at N121 trillion (DMO, June 2025)—this reform promises a more agile bureaucracy, potentially boosting service delivery in sectors like health and education.

 

Why This Matters

With over 720,000 employees costing N4.5 trillion annually (2025 budget), accurate records are crucial for equitable resource allocation and anti-corruption drives. For workers, it means clearer career paths; for the nation, a more responsive government.

The OHCSF’s verification drive, kicking off October 16, 2025, marks a pivotal reform for Nigeria’s civil service, partnering with Philips and others to purge inefficiencies and build capacity. As signed by Deputy Registrar Adekunle Adams for the Registrar (CICPR), civil servants are urged to comply promptly. In Walson-Jack’s words, it’s about creating “a workforce fit for the future.”