The Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC) has announced ambitious plans to significantly enhance evaluation and monitoring practices across Nigeria's public service sector.
Major Commitment to Public Service Reform
This important declaration came from Prof. Tunji Olaopa, Chairman of the FCSC, during his keynote address at the national symposium of the Nigerian Association of Evaluators (NAE) held in Abuja on November 25, 2025.
In his comprehensive goodwill message, Professor Olaopa emphasized that effective evaluation and monitoring practices are absolutely crucial for achieving meaningful national development. He stressed that these practices must become deeply embedded within the daily operations of all public service institutions.
Addressing Human Resource Challenges
Speaking from the unique perspective of the FCSC—the institution responsible for appointments, promotions, and discipline within the Federal Civil Service—Olaopa outlined what a functional national M&E system truly requires.
He explained that beyond just systems and tools, Nigeria needs a professional workforce equipped with the right skills, values, and incentives to make monitoring and evaluation effective.
The FCSC's extensive experience has revealed that many significant barriers affecting M&E practice lie within the human resource environment. These challenges include:
- Unclear job roles and responsibilities
- Absence of proper competency frameworks
- Poor alignment between recruitment processes and organizational values
- Inconsistent career pathways for professionals
- Limited recognition of analytical skills during promotion assessments
- Posting practices that frequently disrupt continuity and institutional memory
Strategic Partnership and Future Directions
In direct response to these identified challenges, the commission has already initiated comprehensive reforms designed to strengthen M&E capacity throughout the public service.
Olaopa specifically acknowledged the Nigerian Association of Evaluators as a strategic partner in this transformation journey. He highlighted NAE's proven experience in building evaluation standards, promoting ethical practices, and supporting capacity development across sectors.
"The NAE represents a natural ally as we seek to professionalize the evaluation function within the civil service," Olaopa stated.
Looking forward, the FCSC chairman expressed strong commitment to collaborating with the evaluators' association to refine competency frameworks, strengthen ethical guidelines, deepen training opportunities, and build communities of practice that encourage continuous learning and knowledge exchange among public servants.
This partnership marks a significant step toward institutionalizing robust monitoring and evaluation systems that can drive better governance outcomes and accelerate Nigeria's development trajectory.
