By Ayodele Quadri, Lagos Times Correspondent
ABUJA, NIGERIA — President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan have commended the outgoing Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF), Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, praising her 34-year public service career, institutional reforms, and commitment to integrity.
The tributes were delivered in Abuja during a combined celebration marking Walson-Jack’s 60th birthday, her statutory retirement from the civil service effective August 27, 2026, and the official launch of her two memoirs: I Planted: A Memoir of Purposeful Service and Beyond the Mandate: A Memoir on Leadership, Legacy & Labour of Public Service.
Highlights of Key Tributes
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President Bola Tinubu: Represented by the Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, Dr. Kingsley Udeh, President Tinubu described Walson-Jack as a “remarkable public servant” who played a key role in repositioning the Federal Civil Service through digital transformation and human resource management reforms.
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Former President Goodluck Jonathan: Jonathan praised Walson-Jack as the first indigene of Bayelsa State to hold the position of Head of Service. He recalled advising her to take an Assistant Director position in the Federal Civil Service years ago despite having already served as a Permanent Secretary in Bayelsa State, citing her eventual rise as a testament to merit, resilience, and integrity.
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Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri: Governor Diri thanked President Tinubu for appointing Walson-Jack and commended her for preserving institutional memory through her published works.
