By Stanley Onyekwere
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has further advanced its leadership and public service reforms agenda 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, of the FCT Administration.
Declaring the workshop open, the Head of Service, FCTA, Mrs Nancy Sabanti Nathan, reaffirmed the Administration’s commitment to building a competent, ethical, and future-ready civil service in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda.
She emphasized that effective leadership development remains central to policy implementation and improved service delivery to residents of the Federal Capital Territory.
Also, the Head of Service explained that the LEAD-P Programme institutionalizes succession planning, talent development, and ethical leadership through a structured, competency-based framework aligned with global best practices and local realities.
She urged the Permanent Secretaries to actively contribute to the validation of the programme’s syllabus, noting that their inputs would shape the quality of future leaders in the FCT Civil Service.
Speaking earlier in his remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Common Services, Mr. Rotimi Ajayi, underscored the importance of innovation in communication (rhetoric) as a vital tool for effective service delivery.
He commended the Reform Coordination and Service Improvement Department( RC&SID) for the laudable initiative, describing the workshop’s theme as timely and consistent with the reform drive of the FCTA 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 highlighted that beyond technical competence, public servants must be skilled in communicating government policies and programmes clearly, credibly, and persuasively to enhance public trust, stakeholder engagement, and citizen satisfaction.
He described the workshop as an opportunity for senior officers to retool their communication approaches and strengthen the image and effectiveness of the civil service assuring that the FCT Administration is ready to continue supporting programmes that promote professionalism innovation and excellence in the Public Service.
In her technical presentation, the Ag. Director, RC&SID, Dr Jumai Ahmadu said the
the FCT Administration has recorded significant progress in the implementation of the FCT Leadership Enhancement and Development Programme (FCT-LEAD-P), describing it as a flagship initiative designed to strengthen leadership capacity and service delivery within the FCT Civil Service.
She opined that since its inception in early 2025, the FCT-LEAD-P has achieved notable milestones aimed at building a competent, ethical, and forward-looking public service aligned with global best practices and local realities.
Furthermore Dr Ahmadu highlighted the key achievements recorded under the programme which include the development of a competency-based leadership framework tailored to the needs of the FCT Civil Service, ensuring relevance, effectiveness, and sustainability.
According to her, a comprehensive curriculum covering leadership theory, practical skills, ethics, innovation, and public sector reforms has been successfully drafted in collaboration with subject-matter experts.
She added that the programme also witnessed a transparent and merit-based candidate selection process, which involved a Computer-Based Test (CBT) and oral interviews, leading to the identification of high-potential officers for the pilot cohort while stakeholder engagement sessions have been held with Directors and technical teams to foster institutional ownership and strengthen programme relevance and preparatory arrangements including training modules, facilitators, and partnerships with local and international institutions are currently being finalised.
She equally disclosed that as part of efforts to consolidate these gains, the FCTA has put the Strategic Validation Workshop for Permanent Secretaries, aimed at reviewing and endorsing the LEAD-P syllabus and aligning the programme with the Administration’s reform and service delivery agenda.
The workshop featured strategic discussions aimed at validating the LEAD-P curriculum, strengthening leadership capacity, and improving communication for enhanced service delivery across all Secretariats, Departments, and Agencies of the FCTA among others.
