Jonathan: Integrity, meritocracy key to Nigeria’s progress

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has called for greater emphasis on integrity and merit in the appointment of people to leadership positions, saying no nation can make meaningful progress when competence is sacrificed for relationships.

Jonathan spoke on Tuesday at an event held to celebrate the retirement of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack, and the presentation of books chronicling her experiences and career.

He commended President Bola Tinubu for appointing Walson-Jack to head the Federal Civil Service, describing her emergence as the first Bayelsan to occupy the position as a significant achievement.

Jonathan said the appointment was particularly commendable because the position was not subject to rotation but required merit.

“That appointment makes her the first Bayelsan to hold that office. I don’t know when we’ll get the next one that will be there, because you have only one Head of Civil Service of the Federation at a time.

“And it is not that you rotate the offices; there’s a lot of merit required,” he said.

Reflecting on Walson-Jack’s rise, Jonathan cited the experience of Singapore under former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, saying the country’s transformation was driven by integrity and meritocracy.

According to him, integrity and merit should remain cardinal principles in governance and institutional leadership.

“First, integrity. Zero tolerance for corruption,” Jonathan said, recalling the principles he attributed to Lee Kuan Yew.

“The second one was meritocracy. It doesn’t look at anybody; it has nothing to do with relationships. For you to hold any office in Singapore then, you must merit it.

“These two are cardinal for every nation, every state, even in institutional life—the civil service of a state or of the Federation.

“If integrity and merit are not considered, especially leadership of the country, if you compromise merit, then you can’t go anywhere. You must use the right people for the right thing.”

Using an analogy drawn from biology, Jonathan warned against assigning responsibilities to people who lacked the competence required for the positions they occupied.

He said, “A cat feeds on other animals—what we call carnivorous animals. A dog also feeds on other animals. A lion also feeds on other animals. But if you give the job of a lion to a cat, it cannot perform.

“So, you must give the job of a lion to a lion, and the job of a cat to a cat. And when you mix it, forget about your country; it can’t go anywhere.”

The former President described Walson-Jack’s career as an example of perseverance and merit, recalling that she had moved from the Bayelsa State Civil Service to the Federal Civil Service after initially being offered the position of Assistant Director despite having served as a Permanent Secretary and Solicitor-General in the state.

Jonathan said he encouraged her to accept the appointment despite the apparent setback, noting that the decision eventually paved the way for her to rise to the position of Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.

“Sometimes when you have some limitations in your life, some experiences that appear not very comfortable, God is preparing you for something bigger.

“So, sometimes people should endure certain situations because you don’t know what is waiting for you,” he said.

Jonathan also recalled an earlier experience involving Bayelsa State civil servants who were sent to the Federal Civil Service during the administration of former Governor Diepreye Alamieyeseigha.

He said some senior permanent secretaries from the state were offered lower positions in the Federal Civil Service, prompting them to reject the appointments.

Speaking at the event, President Tinubu described Walson-Jack as a reformer whose leadership has strengthened Nigeria’s public service through competence, integrity and institutional reforms.

Tinubu, represented by the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Kingsley Udeh, said Walson-Jack’s rise from the Bayelsa State Civil Service to become the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation reflected a distinguished career built on merit and service.

He noted that she was among the few public servants who had served at both the state and federal levels before attaining the highest bureaucratic office in the country.

Tinubu also commended Walson-Jack for documenting her experiences in two books, saying the gesture demonstrated her commitment to leaving behind lessons for future generations of public servants.

He said, “Public service is not only about what we do while in office, but also about what we leave behind for those who come after us.”

The President said his administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda depended on a professional, competent, ethical and citizen-centred civil service capable of translating government policies into measurable outcomes.

Tinubu credited her with helping to strengthen institutional continuity, technical expertise and coordination across government ministries, departments and agencies.

He said reforms under her leadership had shifted the civil service from routine administration to a performance-driven institution focused on service delivery, accountability and innovation.

The President also highlighted ongoing digital reforms in the public service, including the integration of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System with the Human Resource Management System to improve payroll integrity, eliminate leakages and enhance accountability.

He urged the Federal Civil Service to extend the reforms across the wider public sector to build a more efficient, data-driven and citizen-focused government.