By By Elizabeth Ugbo
The Federal Government has directed civil servants seeking Human Resource roles to obtain professional HR certification before May 2027. The directive came from the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation under Mrs. Esther. It affects all federal civil servants planning deployment into HR positions. The government introduced the policy to professionalise HR practice across the civil service. Officers have a 12-month grace period to secure approved certifications.
FG Introduces Mandatory HR Certification Policy
The new directive forms part of ongoing reforms in the federal civil service. The government aims to improve professionalism, efficiency, and global standards in HR management.
According to the circular, officers without approved certifications may lose eligibility for HR-related deployments after the deadline. Therefore, affected workers must begin the certification process immediately.
Approved HR Certification Bodies
The Federal Government approved both local and international professional bodies for the certification process. These include:
- Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (CIPM Nigeria)
- Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD UK)
- Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM USA)
- HR Certification Institute (HRCI USA)
- Chartered Professionals in Human Resources (CPHR Canada)
Civil servants must obtain certification from any of these recognised institutions before the deadline expires.
Deadline for Compliance
The government gave affected officers a 12-month grace period to comply with the directive. However, the policy takes immediate effect across the federal civil service.
Officials believe the reform will strengthen HR operations and align Nigeria’s public service with international best practices.
Implications for Civil Servants
The directive means civil servants seeking HR deployment must improve their professional qualifications. In addition, the policy may increase demand for HR certification programmes in Nigeria and abroad.
Experts also expect the reform to enhance accountability, workforce management, and service delivery within government institutions.
