Commandant of National Defence College Pays Courtesy Visit to Head of The Civil Service of The Federation
The Commandant of the National Defence College (NDC), Rear Admiral Olumuyiwa Olotu, paid a courtesy visit to the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, OON, mni, at her office in Abuja. During the visit, Rear Admiral Olotu described the NDC as Nigeria’s apex military training institution, offering strategic-level education to senior military officers, top officials from Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), as well as participants from allied countries. He underscored the College’s vital role in strengthening national and regional capacity, particularly through its Centre for Strategic Research and Studies. The Centre, he noted, partners with ECOWAS on various initiatives and also organizes training programmes and retreats for members of the National Assembly.
The Commandant also briefed the Head of Service on the recent establishment of the College’s Irregular Warfare Centre, which focuses on research and policy development to address security challenges such as insurgency and terrorism. Highlighting the unique hybrid structure of the institution—comprising both military and civilian personnel—he emphasized the need for strengthened collaboration with the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF).
Rear Admiral Olotu requested support in the areas of advocacy for career progression of the College’s civilian staff, particularly at senior levels and inclusion of the civilian staff in Federal Civil Service capacity development programmes. He also called for their participation in the Performance Management System, in alignment with ongoing civil service reforms as well as consideration for exemption from the annual establishment review process, to support the NDC’s long-term academic planning.
In her response, Mrs. Walson-Jack warmly welcomed the Commandant, noting that he was the first serving uniformed officer to officially visit her in office. She provided updates on the implementation of the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan (FCSSIP), which prioritises talent development and institutional strengthening across the civil service.
The Head of Service commended the NDC for its contributions to national development and expressed her willingness to give due consideration to the requests. She also suggested that the civil service be allocated nomination slots in the NDC’s annual Higher Management of Defence Course. This, she noted, would promote inter-agency collaboration and enhance strategic-level policy understanding within the public service.
