The Federal Government has ordered all civil servants performing human resource functions in ministries, departments and agencies to obtain approved professional HR certifications within 12 months or forfeit eligibility for key personnel management roles.

The directive, contained in a circular from the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, mandates that only officers with recognised HR qualifications will henceforth be deployed to strategic human resource positions across the Federal Civil Service.

The circular, addressed to ministers, permanent secretaries and heads of agencies and parastatals, builds on earlier policies aimed at professionalising HR management in government. It sets out certification requirements, transitional arrangements and deployment conditions for administrative cadre officers currently handling HR duties.

Human resource roles are defined in the document as positions responsible for workforce planning and recruitment, onboarding, employee records and information management, performance management, career progression, training and capacity development, staff welfare and compensation, discipline, employee and industrial relations, exit management and other related duties approved by the Head of the Civil Service.

Under the new regime, the Office of the Head of the Civil Service will recognise only certifications from approved professional bodies, including 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 bodies may be added subject to formal approval.

The circular grants a 12-month moratorium for affected officers to obtain these certifications. During the transition, they may retain their current posts or be deployed to HR-related duties, provided they show verifiable evidence of enrolment and demonstrate progress toward certification within six months.

At the end of the moratorium, possession of an approved HR certification will become a mandatory condition for posting to HR departments in ministries and extra-ministerial offices, as well as to the Career Management Office, Service Policies and Strategies Office, Service Welfare Office in the Office of the Head of the Civil Service, and the Federal Civil Service Commission.

Officials say the measure is part of broader civil service reforms designed to align Nigeria’s public service with global best practices, strengthen professionalism in personnel administration and improve workforce planning, talent management, performance evaluation and succession planning across federal institutions.