By Abu, I. Michael
The incumbent Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HCSoF), Dr. Folashade Mejabi Yemi-Esan has been committed, always pushing for excellence in public service delivery. I think that her encouragement and support for the reforms in the service is transformational from what is being seen in the modus operandi of the public and civil service of Nigeria as it is today and even in the modus vivendi of the workers. Her leadership initiated the Leadership Enhancement and Development Programme (LEAD-P), and the approved Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan (FCSSIP) that will run into year 2025 – all aimed at achieving a public and civil service capable of initiating and interpreting the laudable policies and programmes of the Nigerian Government for effective implementation and fast-track sustainable development. The leadership of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) could not help to appreciate her accomplishment and thus honoured her with the Most Outstanding Female Worker Award in recognition of her contributions towards promoting the rights and welfare of workers in the country.
It is pertinent to put on records that her actions and relations with public officers and civil servants as I know are clearly devoid of nepotism and victimization. Some years back, while working at one of the state offices of the Federal Ministry of Information know as Federal Information Centre (FIC), I was recommended for deployment to Abuja to serve as a Resident Information Officer (RIO) in one of the Federal Government Agencies because of my regular contributions on various mass media platforms especially as they relate to the activities of the government. One of the former directors in the ministry stood vehemently against my posting and refused to sign the letter for the posting, something I cannot explain till date; as Permanent Secretary of the Ministry then, Dr. Yemi-Esan in appreciation of productive service and in encouragement of commitment called for the letter and signed it herself. We have never come in contact, except when the former Surveyor General of the Federation, Surv. Samuel Adeniran Taiwo paid a courtesy call on her upon his appointment.
Her drive for excellence has led to the awards of many public officers and civil servants to encourage productivity, and worthy of note was the 2023 Civil Service Outstanding Service Award bestowed the Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Arc. Sunday Echono for his sterling leadership qualities and achievements. Arc. Echono has bagged many awards, and I think the recent given to him by the amiable Head of the Nigerian Civil Service is an endorsement of patriotism, loyalty and commitment to national reconstruction and sustainable development of the Nigerian State. Arc. Echono has served in several Federal Government Ministries as permanent secretary before his retirement, and his eventual appointment as the TETFund ES. He is therefore not knew to Dr. Yemi-Esan; his antecedents are on records and cannot be hidden from the eyes of the distinguished matriarch of the civil service.
Daily, there are reports on activities of TETFund on mass mediums keeping members of the public abreast of its bearings, principally on the education sector. Echono ought to be celebrated by the Government and good people of Benue State as a worthy ambassador, notable for impactful service delivery. It is normal for me to express great excitement and interest about him and his feat as my kindred of Odugbo-Ochekwu, Apa Local Government Area; to me, Arc. Echono is an exemplar of a good administrator. His award by the HoCSF is a booster for administrative fineness in the public service of Nigeria.
This write up is not in any way meant to eulogize Arc. Echono, but to challenge public office holders and executives to hold high the need to exhibit quality leadership and commitment to our national credo through quality service delivery, particularly in the current democratic dispensation when the leadership is focusing on revamping the economy for improved living conditions. I expect public office executives to be conscious of their workers and see themselves as the books through which their subordinates could enlighten their minds in appreciation of good models; only then can good leaders and administrators be increased in our pubic and civil service system.
While I commend Dr. Yemi-Esan for her audacious reform at modernizing our public and civil service, let me say that it remains always tenable for the regular rewards of hardworking and committed workers to sustain inspiration for effective and efficient performance of duties in the various MDAs. Since the reform envisages the challenges of retired workers in the country, a more feasible and appreciable retirement package should not only be put in place, but that the process of settling them should beat delay in order to allay the fear that might encourage corruption in the system. The awards of the HCSoF can be increased to cover every cadre and profession in the public and civil service to achieve boost the self-esteem of the workers.
Michael is the Head of Press and Public Relations of the Office of the Surveyor General of the Federation
