The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has stepped up its public service reform efforts with the successful hosting of a One-Day Strategic Validation Workshop on the FCT Leadership Enhancement and Development Programme (FCT-LEAD-P) for Permanent Secretaries.
Declaring the workshop open, the Head of Service of the FCTA, Mrs. Nancy Sabanti Nathan (mni), reaffirmed the Administration’s resolve to build a competent, ethical and future-ready civil service in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda. She emphasised that leadership development remains central to effective policy execution and improved service delivery for residents of the Federal Capital Territory.
Mrs. Nathan explained that the FCT-LEAD-P is designed to institutionalise succession planning, talent management and ethical leadership through a structured, competency-based framework that aligns global best practices with local realities. She urged Permanent Secretaries to provide robust input in validating the programme’s syllabus, noting that their contributions would directly influence the calibre of future leaders in the FCT Civil Service.
In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Common Services, Mr. Rotimi Ajayi, underscored the role of innovative communication as a critical tool for effective governance. He commended the Reform Coordination and Service Improvement Department (RC&SID) for initiating the programme, describing the workshop as timely and in harmony with the FCTA’s reform agenda under the leadership of the Honourable Minister of the FCT, Barr. Nyesom Wike, CON, and the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan (FCSSIP 25).
Mr. Ajayi noted that beyond technical expertise, public servants must possess strong communication skills to clearly articulate government policies and programmes, adding that this is vital for building public trust, enhancing stakeholder engagement and improving citizen satisfaction. He assured participants of the Administration’s continued support for initiatives that promote professionalism, innovation and excellence in the public service.
Presenting a technical overview, the Acting Director of RC&SID, Dr. Jumai Ahmadu, described the FCT-LEAD-P as a flagship initiative aimed at strengthening leadership capacity and boosting service delivery across the FCT Civil Service. She disclosed that since its launch in early 2025, the programme has recorded significant milestones toward building a competent, ethical and forward-looking workforce.
Dr. Ahmadu highlighted key achievements, including the development of a competency-based leadership framework tailored to the FCT Civil Service and the drafting of a comprehensive curriculum covering leadership theory, practical skills, ethics, innovation and public sector reforms in collaboration with subject-matter experts. She added that a transparent, merit-based selection process—featuring Computer-Based Tests and oral interviews—has been implemented to identify high-potential officers for the pilot cohort.
According to her, extensive stakeholder engagement sessions with Directors and technical teams have fostered institutional ownership of the programme, while preparations such as training modules, facilitators and partnerships with local and international institutions are being finalised.
She explained that the Strategic Validation Workshop for Permanent Secretaries was convened to consolidate these gains by reviewing and endorsing the LEAD-P syllabus and ensuring alignment with the FCTA’s reform objectives and service delivery priorities.
The workshop featured high-level discussions focused on validating the LEAD-P curriculum, strengthening leadership capacity and enhancing communication for improved service delivery across all Secretariats, Departments and Agencies of the FCTA.
