The Federal Government has officially declared the Personnel Audit and Skills Gap Analysis (PASGA) exercise at the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation a resounding success. This development marks a significant milestone in ongoing efforts to reposition the Nigerian public service for greater efficiency, transparency, and digital transformation.
The high-level report presentation, held at the Ministry’s headquarters in Abuja on Thursday, April 16, 2026, brought together senior government officials, representatives from the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, and technical consultants to review key findings and outline strategic pathways for institutional reform.
Building a Future-Ready Workforce
Presenting the report, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Stransform Ltd, Offiong Archibong, stated that the PASGA project has successfully achieved its core objectives. Through a combination of personnel audits, stakeholder engagements, and data-driven assessments, the exercise was designed to strengthen workforce structure and enhance service delivery.
Archibong explained that the process involved extensive field verification across departments and state-linked offices to ensure data accuracy. She emphasized that the project serves as a diagnostic tool for long-term growth rather than a one-off check.
“The idea is to build an agile, future-ready workforce,” Archibong remarked. “We are looking at not just what you need now, but for what you need tomorrow.”
Addressing Critical Gaps and Succession Planning
The audit identified specific capacity gaps in areas vital to modern governance, including strategic communication, digital content development, records management, and data analytics. Strengthening these sectors is considered essential to improving national narrative management and governance effectiveness.
Archibong was quick to note that these deficits are not indicative of individual failure but are symptoms of systemic design challenges in role specification, training, recruitment strategy, and performance management. She also issued a stern warning regarding the loss of institutional memory.
“We are advocating that you don’t let people just exit like that,” she cautioned. “These experienced officers are the foundation of knowledge within the system, and when they leave without structured succession planning and knowledge transfer, they always leave a gap.”
Leading in Gender Representation
A standout finding of the report was the Ministry’s performance regarding inclusivity. Archibong commended the Ministry’s workforce composition, describing it as a positive benchmark for other government arms.
“This is the first ministry we have seen with this kind of gender representation. 56 per cent of the workforce are women, and we are very proud of it,” she stated.
Commitment to Implementation
Responding on behalf of the Permanent Secretary, the Director of Publication, Production and Documentary, Mr. Okunnu Ibidapo, acknowledged the significance of the PASGA findings and commended the consulting team for their thoroughness.
Ibidapo assured stakeholders that the report provides a clear direction for strengthening institutional performance, noting that the Ministry will carefully review the recommendations with a view toward full implementation to ensure the public service remains competitive and result-oriented.
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