Head of Service

MRS. DIDI ESTHER WALSON-JACK, OON, mni

Head of the Civil Service of the Federation

Mrs Didi Esther Walson-Jack, a public servant of unwavering dedication, hails from Tombia, Ekpetiama Clan, Yenagoa Local Government Area, Bayelsa State. Her commitment to public service is a shining example for all. She was born on 27 August 1966 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. She attended Rumukurushe Primary School, Shell Camp, and St. Paul’s Primary School, Diobu, all in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria, for primary education. A product of Federal Government Girls’ College, Benin City, Edo State, and Federal Government College, Ilorin, Kwara State, Mrs Walson-Jack holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Lagos and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1987. She is a Legislative Drafter and a Certified Conflict Resolution and Peace Building practitioner.

Mrs Walson-Jack’s commitment to public service is evident in her roles as Solicitor-General of Bayelsa State, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Deputy Chief of Staff to the Governor, Pioneer Commissioner of the Ministry of Science & Technology and Manpower Development, and Chief of Staff to the Governor, all in Bayelsa State. Her 15 years in the Federal Civil Service, including seven as a Permanent Secretary, further attest to her unwavering dedication.

Her illustrious public service career began in 1992 as a State Counsel at the Rivers State Ministry of Justice, and she transferred her service to Bayelsa State in 1996. As the only certified Legal Drafter in the newly created Bayelsa State, she doubled as Head of the Legal Drafting Department of the Ministry of Justice and Legal Department of the State House of Assembly, which she established and administered. Her specialist skills in Legislative Drafting and the insufficient human resources in the new Bayelsa State meant that the principles of separation of powers could hardly be obeyed, as Didi worked simultaneously for both the Executive and Legislative arms of the government.

In 2009, Mrs Walson-Jack, already the Solicitor-General of Bayelsa State and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Justice for seven years, transitioned to the Federal Civil Service as an Assistant Director, Administration, with responsibility for Appointment and Discipline in the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs. She rose steadily to become a Federal Permanent Secretary in 2017. As Permanent Secretary, she pioneered the Service Welfare Office, introduced Rewards and Recognition System initiatives, and reinvigorated the Federal Integrated Staff Housing Programme (FISH). As Chair of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council, her efforts in managing labour relations significantly contributed to industrial harmony in the Service.

In 2018, she was a member of the Tripartite and Technical Committees on National Minimum Wage, Implementation and Consequential Adjustments, respectively. She initiated the development of Federal policies, including the Civil Service Exit Management Programme (Pre-Retirement Training, Offboarding, and Post-Retirement Service Schemes); Framework on Public Service Emergency Management; Civil Service Welfare Policy; establishment of a Centralized Counselling Centre, Baseline Survey of Persons With Disabilities; and Framework for the implementation of the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Policy. Her pivotal role in developing these programmes and initiatives has significantly improved the public service, making her a true reformist.

Throughout her career, Mrs Walson-Jack has served as a Permanent Secretary in various Ministries and the Special Duties Office in the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation. Her role as a trusted Chief Policy Adviser has been instrumental in ensuring the effective implementation of government policies and responding to emerging challenges with dedication, thereby reassuring the public of her capable leadership.

Mrs Didi Esther Walson-Jack brings a wealth of experience from the Civil Services of Rivers and Bayelsa States, six Federal Ministries, the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, and the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation. She is the recipient of the Officer of the Order of the Niger and an alumna of the National Institute. Mrs Didi Esther Walson-Jack, who has been married to Hon. Nimi Walson-Jack for 35 years, is a proud mother of two and a doting grandmother. Her attributes of resilience, faith, and dedication to public service have been instrumental in her success.

Mrs Walson-Jack is the author of the Best-Seller Roses in the Thorns, her autobiography about resilience and the triumph of faith over adversity. In this book, she shares her personal experiences and the challenges she has overcome in her first fifty years. It is a testament to her resilience and a source of inspiration for many.