The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Walson-Jack, has said the Federal Government will deepen Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven reforms to improve efficiency and service delivery across the public sector.
She stated this on Wednesday in Abuja at the opening of a three-day AI Literacy Training workshop for civil servants.
Walson-Jack, who was represented by Dr. Gideon Adogbo, Consultant to the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF), said the workshop, themed “AI Literacy Training for Civil Servants”, was organised by the OHCSF in collaboration with UNESCO, with funding support from the European Union.
She explained that the initiative aligns with ongoing efforts to reposition the Federal Civil Service as a modern, technology-driven, and globally competitive institution under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
“AI is reshaping how governments work, how policies are designed, how services are delivered, and how institutions respond to citizens’ needs,” she said.
Walson-Jack added that the civil service is pursuing reforms focused on efficiency, transparency, digitalisation, and improved service delivery under the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
She described digital transformation as a central pillar of the reform agenda, emphasising that technology adoption is no longer optional, but a practical strategy for improving government operations and institutional performance.
The Head of Service disclosed that an AI-driven platform known as Service-Wise GPT has been introduced to enable civil servants to access rules, circulars, and official guidelines more efficiently.
According to her, the tool is designed to support decision-making and improve accuracy in administrative processes, rather than replace human judgment.
Walson-Jack said the deployment of AI within the civil service has already improved coordination across ministries and strengthened institutional knowledge management systems.
However, she cautioned that AI adoption must be guided by ethical and responsible standards, warning of risks such as bias, privacy breaches, misinformation, and weak accountability if the technology is poorly managed.
Also speaking, the Director overseeing the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Joy Baderin, said the training programme is timely, given the growing importance of digital transformation in effective governance.
She noted that AI presents significant opportunities to improve efficiency, strengthen decision-making, and enhance responsiveness across the public service.
Baderin added that the workshop’s train-the-trainers model would help ensure knowledge transfer across ministries, departments, and agencies, thereby promoting wider institutional impact and long-term sustainability.
In his remarks, UNESCO Abuja Education Sector Head, Mr. Oladeji Adeyemi, said the initiative demonstrates strong collaboration between Nigeria and international development partners in advancing governance through technology.
He explained that the training aligns with Nigeria’s National AI Strategy and Digital Economy Plan, both of which are aimed at improving productivity, strengthening service delivery, and supporting talent development.
Adeyemi added that the workshop also emphasises ethical AI adoption in line with UNESCO guidelines and Nigeria’s civil service competency framework.
