Connect with us

News

PRESIDENT TINUBU TO PUBLIC SERVANTS: Live Up To Your Expectation As Public Trust For Accountability

Published

on

PRESIDENT TINUBU TO PUBLIC SERVANTS: Live Up To Your Expectation As Public Trust For Accountability

*Abdulsalami, Akpabio, governors, Gbajabiamila, Dangote, 39 others get excellence awards

By: Our Reporter

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has implored Nigerian public servants to live up to their expectation as public trust where they must all be accountable to the citizens.

He urged them to always be guided by the fact that the nation’s public institutions are not personal enterprises, and that, as public servants, they are employees of the Nigerian people.

The President who made the observation on Saturday during the Nigeria Excellence Awards in Public Service (NEAPS) held at Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, restated his administration’s determination “to creating an environment where merit is rewarded, and where every public servant feels valued and motivated to give their best”.

This, he said, is not just about the awards ceremony, but about embedding a culture of recognition and reward in the ethos of the country’s public service.

President Tinubu who was represented by his deputy, Vice President Kashim Shettima, at the event noted that some loopholes are still being exploited by those saddled with the nation’s trust despite the institutional measures put in place to prevent any form of irregularities in the public service.

Delivering the President’s speech titled, “Honouring the Heartbeats of Public Service,” VP Shettima stated: “More than ever, our public service must live up to its expectation as a public trust where every official must account to the people, and ours is to create an ecosystem where they not only stand out but stand apart from those who sabotage us.

“Even though we have set in place institutional measures to forestall any form of dysfunction in our public service, there are still cracks often exploited by those given the trust of the nation. But what we must never get tired of doing is reminding ourselves that our public institutions are not personal enterprises, and for that, each of us is an employee of the Nigerian citizen.”

Underlining the significance of the Nigeria Excellence Awards in Public Service (NEAPS), a private sector initiative in partnership with the office of the Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), President Tinubu gave the initiative his full support, saying it is strategic to inspire the bulk of the nation’s workforce, “set benchmarks, and create a ripple effect of positive change throughout our society”.

According to him, “reward and recognition are the very markers of every thriving institution, and indeed, nation,” even as he noted that “the essence of any successful entity, whether a private enterprise or public institution, lies in its ability to honour those who work to uphold its values and drive its progress.

“Our labour force remains the ultimate reflection of our principles, as practised by men and women who rise every day with a commitment to building a better future for all citizens. We therefore owe these silent architects of our national progress more than just a debt of gratitude”.

The President showered praises on Nigerian public servants, maintaining that their place must be remembered in order to motivate them to inspire others and make clear “that excellence is not an orphan”.

Beyond a mere ceremony to recognise the unsung heroes who keep the wheels of government and society turning beyond expectations, President Tinubu said NEAPS also plays a crucial role of introducing “more role models to a nation in search of mentors and to tell the awardees that we see them, and the excellence with which they have served the nation.

“The 44 persons we are here to honour set in motion a chain of actions to build a culture of hard work and commitment to noble principles in our public service. We must also strive to make sure that the values that have set them apart are deeply ingrained in our culture.

“There’s no better way to water this forest of high performance, integrity, and accountability than our collective refusal to underplay the efforts of those who labour day in and day out to hold our nation together,” he added.

Earlier in his welcome address, the SGF, George Akume, said NEAPS, a private sector-driven initiative, recognises and rewards innovation, purposeful leadership and hardwork by exceptional individuals and organisations in the country’s public service across all levels of government and the private sector.

He explained that the process of selecting the distinguished honourees was based on empirical facts and figures that are verifiable.

The SGF assured that efforts would be made to ensure the initiative is maintained as a regular feature in order to motivate and and encourage excellence in the country’s public service.

He urged recipients of the awards not to relent in their efforts towards making Nigeria a more prosperous and progressive country.

Among the 44 persons who clinched the Nigeria Excellence Awards in Public Service are General Abdulsalami Abubakar (Peace Building award); Senate President, Godswill Akpabio (Parliamentary Excellence award); Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas (Parliamentary Excellence award); Chief of Staff to the President, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila (Leadership and Administration award), and Deputy Chief of Staff to the President (Office of the Vice President), Senator Ibrahim Hadejia (Administrator par Excellence award).

Governors Bala Mohammed of Bauchi, Seyi Makinde of Oyo, Dapo Abiodun of Ogun, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa, Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara and Peter Ndubuisi Mbah of Enugu were recognised for interventions in specific sectors in their respective states.

Others include FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike (Infrastructure Delivery award, Federal); Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Mr Olayemi Cardoso (Monetary Policy Reforms award); President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote (Industrial Revolution award); former SGF, Boss Mustapha (Lifetime Achievement award), and Founder/Chairman of Zenith Bank, Chief Jim Ovia (Lifetime Achievement in Banking award), among others.

PRESIDENT TINUBU TO PUBLIC SERVANTS: Live Up To Your Expectation As Public Trust For Accountability

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

News

I Am Pained Over Loss of Lives in Maitama, Okija Stampedes, says Women Affairs Minister

Published

on

I Am Pained Over Loss of Lives in Maitama, Okija Stampedes, says Women Affairs Minister

*says incidences avoidable

By: Michael Mike

Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, has lamented the losses of lives in Maitama, Abuja and at Okija, in Anambra State during food distribution drives by private institutions aimed at supporting the people as they celebrate the festive season.

The minister expressed deep grief describing the gestures of the donors as laudable, but condemned the crowd management approaches adopted.

In a statement on Saturday by her media team, Sulaiman-Ibrahim stated that they were avoidable incidences, and prayed for the repose of their lives, and speedy recovery for those injured.

While condoling with with the FCT Minister, His Excellency Nyesom Wike and the Anambra State Governor, Professor Charles Soludo, the minister called for thorough investigations into the incidences in order to forestall future occurrences.

The minister emphasized the need for crowd assessment which involves estimating the number of recipients and planning accordingly as a pre-event measure.

She also admonished Nigerians who are planning similar distributions to choose spacious, open areas with minimal obstacles, adding that distributions should be scheduled at a time when the crowd is likely to be smaller.

The statement reads in parts : “I am deeply pained by the news of stampedes in Abuja and Okija in Anambra State today. As a mother, I understand the pain of loosing anyone in death under such horrible circumstances. I join the families and governments of the FCT and Anambra State in this distressing moments, and feels the pains of those directly affected.

“These incidences are avoidable if adequate safety measures are put in place. I hereby call on security agencies to investigate these cases in order to forestall future occurrences.

“By implementing the above measures, the risk of stampedes during food distribution would be minimized.

I Am Pained Over Loss of Lives in Maitama, Okija Stampedes, says Women Affairs Minister

Continue Reading

News

Christmas: Gov Zulum Provides Free Transport To 710 Borno Non Indigenes

Published

on

Christmas: Gov Zulum Provides Free Transport To 710 Borno Non Indigenes

By Francis Okoye

Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum has provided free transport to 710 non Indigenes living in the State to enable them travel home to celebrate the Christmas and the new year with their loved ones .

The free transport scheme which was flagg-off on Saturday at the Borno Express Bus Terminus saw about 285 persons traveling to the various parts of the country, of which the second batch of 285 would travel on Sunday, while the remaining ones would be leaving the State on Monday.

Speaking during the flagging off, the Chairman/ Zonal Coordinator Ohaneze All Progressives Congress ( APC ) support group, Chief Ugochukwu Egwidike , said each of the 710 travellers apart from the free transport scheme would receive a cash sum of N50,000, while about 250 widows who did not travel would be given N50,000 each to celebrate the Christmas.

Egwudike added that Governor Zulum has made significant strides in providing succour to the needy with various initiatives aimed at alleviating poverty and promoting social welfare, like very subsidised transportation services within Maiduguri metropolitan council, as well as sponsoring many Christians to Jerusalem for pilgrimage.

” Apart from enhanced reduced transportation in city, Governor Zulum’s administration has been offering free transport scheme for all the non Indigenes in every yulitide season like this to connect any part of the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria, with a total of 710 beneficiaries reached annually, thus bridging the gap in mobility and connectivity, and promoting economic growth and development.

“He provided emergency aid and resources to the non Indigenes affected by the recent flood incident in the State and thus showcased his ability to respond to crisis and prioritise the wellbeing of all residents. The Governor has been providing this free transport scheme to non Indigenes from 2020 to date, ” Egwudike said.

He said the Governor’s gestures demonstrate his dedication to creating a more just and equitable society where all the residents regardless of the their ethnic, religious and party affiliation, have access to resources and opportunities they need to thrive.

The Oba of Yorubas in Borno State, Alhaji Hassan Alao Yusuf who witnessed the flagging off ceremony in company of other leaders, appreciated Zulum for the gesture ,saying that the transport scheme to the non Indigenes has depicted the detribalised nature of the Governor.

” He doesn’t care about your religion, tribe or party affiliation. You can see that everyone of the travellers are happy with the Governor’s gestures. Many of them due to the present economic hardship wouldn’t have made the journey to go home and celebrate with their loved ones if not for the free transport scheme,” said Alhaji Yusuf.

In the same vein, a member of the board of trustees of Igbo Welfare Association/ Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Borno State, Pharm Napoleon Egbonu , commended Governor Zulum for his continuous support to the non Indigenes in the State,

Pharm Egbonu noted that the gesture of the Governor to the non Indigenes in the State is a unifying factor that needed to to be emulated by other Governors in building a trust and unity among ethic groups across the country.

Also speaking, the General Manager, Borno Express Transport Corperation, Grema Zanna, appreciated Governor Zulum for the gesture, saying the what the Governor has done is part of his programme of alleviating the issue of high cost transportation to the residents of the State.

He noted that those that are benefiting from the free transport scheme notwithstanding being non Indigenes have been contributing to the economic development of the State, and are part and parcel of Borno State

Christmas: Gov Zulum Provides Free Transport To 710 Borno Non Indigenes

Continue Reading

News

Buni explains achievements in 2024

Published

on

Buni explains achievements in 2024

By: Yahaya Wakili

Yobe state Governor, Hon. Mai Mala Buni, CON, has said in 2024, our effort in the health sector led the Yobe state government to win 500,000 US dollars in the primary healthcare leadership challenge for states in the North-East sub-region. 

 We have achieved 100% payment of hazard allowances and adjustment of CONMESS and CONHESS salary scales to healthcare workers, recruited 311 new members of staff, including doctors, nurses, and other cadres, and ensured the continuation of our free dialysis program for kidney patients.

Governor Buni disclosed this while addressing journalists at the End-Of-Year 2024 Media briefing at Cedars Recreation Center Damaturu, the state capital.

The governor, who was represented by his ever-loyal deputy, Hon. Idi Barde Gubana Wazirin Fune, also said, apart from the achievements recorded in the education sector, such as the building of many model and mega schools, the award of scholarships to students undergoing various courses within and outside the country, ministries, departments, and the agencies (MDAs) legacies, which are not mentioned in the speech.

Idi Barde Gubana, who read the speech of the governor who was attending another very important meeting of the Northern Governor’s Forum in Kaduna, revealed that, “in the year under review, through robust and prudent management of score resources, we were able to turn around the fortunes of our people by making significant investments in education, agriculture, healthcare, and wealth and job creation, and road construction, among others.

In the recent Multi-Purpose Cash Assistance (MPCA) empowerment program we unveiled, a total of 52,997 households and 201,300 individuals were reached with a total sum of #3,907,387,056, while 456,205 other households with a total of 974,220 individuals were reached with food and non-food items support.

He said, “In the area of agriculture and food security, through our agricultural revitalization program, the sum of #15.3 billion was spent to provide farm implements and inputs to 5,340 farmers across the 178 wards of the state. The state government is also spending $1.7 billion in the procurement of assorted grains for our strategic grains reserve.

“Similarly, in the area of wealth creation, a lot was also achieved. These include the procurement of 475 modern sewing and embroidery machines, procurement and distribution of 350 disability tricycles, procurement of 712 nos. of cows and bulls to livestock farmers, provision of cash grants of #150,000 to 3,560 micro and small entrepreneurs across 178 wards of the state, and provision of cash support of #20,000 to 4,800 unemployed youths.

 In addition, training of 85 youths on shoemaking and provision of start-up kits, distribution of 500 units of deep freezers to women in the ice-making business, procurement of 1,780 smoking stoves, 1,780 frying pans, 1,780 frying spoons, 1,780 sieving basins, and 1,780 bowls. Procurement of 100 units of pick-up tricycles for distribution to beneficiaries and the procurement and distribution of 340 work bulls, 170 ox-drawn carts, and 170 ox-drawn plows, among others.

In his welcome address, Yobe State Commissioner of Home Affairs, Information, and Culture, Hon. Abdullahi Bego, said this is the first time in as many years that His Excellency himself would avail us of the opportunity to address this kind of end-of-year gathering.

He said Yobe state, and indeed Nigeria as a whole, cannot thrive and make any meaningful progress without peace and security, and the participation of all citizens requires that the media always focus attention on what brings the people together rather than what sets them apart.

“I am confident that with your support, the Yobe state government under the charismatic and indefatigable leadership of His Excellency Governor Mai Mala Buni CON, in the months and years ahead, will continue to reach even more milestones and make an even bigger impact in the lives of the people of the state, he said.

“On behalf of the management and staff of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Information, and Culture, I want to express my deepest gratitude to His Excellency, Hon. Mai Mala Buni CON, Chiroman Gujba, ably represented by his ever-loyal deputy, Hon. Idi Barde Gubana Wazirin Fune, for sparing the time to address this distinguished gathering of our state’s press and media community.

Buni explains achievements in 2024

Continue Reading

Trending

Verified by MonsterInsights