Professional Communication Competencies Required of Nigerian Public Servants: A Linguistic Needs Analysis in Abuja

This study conducts a linguistic needs analysis of the professional communication competencies required by public servants in federal ministries in Abuja, Federal Capital Territory. Effective professional communication is central to the delivery of government services, policy implementation, and inter-agency coordination, yet no systematic study has defined the specific language and communication competencies required across civil service roles in the Nigerian federal context. The study adopts a descriptive needs analysis methodology drawing on Munby's communicative needs framework and the European Language for Specific Purposes tradition. Data were collected from 60 senior and middle-grade civil servants across four federal ministries through structured communication competency surveys, followed by in-depth interviews with 20 departmental directors. The analysis identifies competency profiles across written, oral, and digital communication channels, mapping required skills against identified performance gaps. Findings reveal that report writing, meeting facilitation, correspondence drafting, and policy brief preparation are identified as the highest-priority communication competencies across all ministry types, with significant self-reported deficiencies in formal business writing and presentation skills. The study recommends the development of a competency-based professional communication training framework for civil servants, delivered through the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria. Keywords: professional communication, needs analysis, civil service, Abuja, language for specific purposes.