The Federal Government has directed civil servants in human resource roles across ministries, departments and agencies to obtain approved professional certifications within 12 months or face ineligibility for deployment to key personnel management positions. A circular issued by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation and obtained by The PUNCH on Monday mandates the requirement as part of ongoing efforts to professionalise HR management in the Federal Civil Service. The directive applies to all officers currently serving in HR-related roles and covers positions involving workforce planning, recruitment, onboarding, employee records, performance management, career progression, training, staff welfare, compensation, discipline, industrial relations and exit management.
The circular, addressed to all ministers, permanent secretaries and heads of agencies, states that only certifications from approved bodies will be recognised. These include the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria, the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, the Society for Human Resource Management, the Human Resource Certification Institute and Chartered Professionals in Human Resources. Other institutions may be recognised over time, but only with approval from the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation. Officers have 12 months from the date of the circular to obtain certification. During this moratorium, they may remain in or be assigned to HR duties if they provide verifiable proof of enrolment and show progress toward certification within six months.
After the 12-month period, holding an approved HR certification will be mandatory for deployment to HR departments, the Career Management Office, Service Policies and Strategies Office, Service Welfare Office within the OHCSF, and the Federal Civil Service Commission. The directive takes immediate effect, and all MDAs are required to inform affected staff. The policy follows earlier circulars issued in August 2023 and March 2024 aimed at transforming HR functions from administrative tasks into a specialised profession. The reforms are aligned with global best practices and intended to improve workforce planning, talent management, employee development and succession planning in federal institutions.
The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation is demanding HR certifications from civil servants while allowing them to stay in sensitive personnel roles during the grace period despite lacking qualifications. This creates a window where unqualified officers continue making staffing and welfare decisions affecting thousands of federal workers. The delay in enforcing the requirement undermines the urgency of the professionalism it claims to promote. Federal employees' career outcomes may hinge on advice from officers still uncertified after a year.
Editorial note: AI-assisted opinion, not established fact. Full disclaimer →
