Civil Service and Leadership Synergy

Human history is marked by leadership infighting, with the Roman Republic's fall serving as a stark reminder of catastrophic tension. Contemporary history, however, continues to witness such rivalries not only in governments but also in corporations, often hindering public service delivery.

In Nigeria, the civil service stands as a prime example of inter-agency synergy. The current civil service is led by two prominent bureaucrats, Prof. Tunji Olaopa, Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission, and Mrs Esther Didi Walson-Jack, Head of Civil Service of the Federation. They are actively working to restore the service's prestige and elevate it to global standards.

Olaopa and Walson-Jack have cultivated a cooperative relationship, which Olaopa likens to that of Siamese twins. Their collaboration is not merely aspirational; it has been demonstrated through their collective management of the civil service. They exhibit a high level of emotional intelligence, understanding their crucial role as the institutional memory of government and prioritizing the collective objective of improving citizens' lives over personal ego.

Olaopa has praised Walson-Jack's collegial spirit as unrivaled, underscoring their effective partnership. This synergy is vital for the civil service's flourishing, ensuring effective service delivery to citizens and avoiding the pitfalls of inter-agency rivalries that plague other government bodies.

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Although he has worked with many highly placed people in government, Walson-Jack’s collegial spirit is unrivalled.