The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HoS), Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, has cautioned civil servants across Nigeria to remain neutral and avoid partisan politics as the 2027 general elections draw closer.
Speaking during the Quarterly Stakeholders and Citizens Engagement interactive session held on Friday in Abuja, Walson-Jack emphasized that civil servants must uphold the rules and conditions of service by serving the government of the day without bias.
Reacting to a trending Supreme Court judgment on civil servants and political participation, she clarified that while public servants have the right to be card-carrying members of political parties, they are not permitted to engage in partisan conduct.
“It’s an old judgement, and it is still very much in force,” she said.
“But what that judgement said was that civil servants can be card-carrying members of a political party, just so that their fundamental human right of association is not denied. It went on to caution that civil servants must abide by the terms and conditions of their service.
“You cannot go and be partisan. You serve the government of the day with neutrality. Anything contrary will be dealt with in accordance with the rules and regulations of the public service,” Walson-Jack warned.
She stressed that neutrality and professionalism remain the backbone of the civil service and must be protected to ensure trust and stability in governance.
