In defence of its choice to honour 18 exceptional civil officials with computers, new sports utility cars, and other priceless gifts, the federal government claims that the action was taken in appreciation of their unsung but significant contributions to public service reform.
The Head of the Federation’s Civil Service, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, referred to the honourees as “quiet reformers whose daily efforts often go unnoticed but are critical to national development” during the 2025 Civil Service Awards Night, which took place in Abuja on Saturday.
According to her, the recipients were chosen because they continuously maintained discipline, excellence, and integrity in a rigorous system.
“They show up on time, meet deadlines, write policies, fix systems, and still manage to maintain a smile.
“Tonight, we pause to acknowledge the busyness and say: we see you. We thank you. We honour you,” Walson-Jack said.
According to the list of awardees, a civil servant from the Federal Ministry of Environment, Dr Bahijjatu Hadiza, won the presidential star prize for an SUV, an award plaque, a laptop, a foreign short course, a masterclass programme and an award certificate.
Another civil servant from the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, Chukwudi Ekwenugo, won an SUV, N500,000 cash, a laptop, and a foreign short course, among others.
Other award winners went home with cash prizes ranging from N250,000 to N500,000 alongside laptops, among others.
While applauding the efforts of those honoured, Walson-Jack encouraged other public servants not to be discouraged if they were not recognised this year.
“Recognition may take time, but it will come. Do your work so well that it cannot be ignored,” she said.
She, however, expressed disappointment that some MDAs either failed to submit nominations or put forward candidates who did not meet the criteria, urging better compliance and seriousness in future editions.
The event, which followed the maiden International Civil Service Conference held at Eagle Square on Wednesday and Thursday, also honoured two federal ministries.
Over 5,000 delegates from across the world attended the conference to exchange ideas and explore innovations in public sector management.
Walson-Jack said the awards ceremony is a fixture on the civil service calendar and serves as a way of celebrating public servants whose daily work often goes unnoticed.
She praised President Bola Tinubu for his support for civil service reforms, citing recent strides in digitisation, performance management, and welfare, including the new minimum wage and pension reforms.
She, therefore, called for punctuality and discipline in the service, insisting that early resumption and consistent attendance must become the new face of reform.
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“Resuming work by 8:00 am is not just a rule; it is a culture we must reclaim and uphold. When we arrive on time, we demonstrate respect for the system, our colleagues, and the citizens we serve,” she added.
In his address, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, who represented the President, commended the dedication and resilience of Nigeria’s civil servants, describing them as the backbone of governance and national development.
He noted that the Tinubu administration remained committed to creating an enabling environment for the public service to thrive through reforms that would promote merit, innovation, and accountability.
