President Bola Tinubu has urged public servants to uphold public trust and accountability to the citizens they serve.
Speaking through Vice President Kashim Shettima at the Nigeria Excellence Awards in Public Service (NEAPS) on Saturday, held at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa in Abuja, President Tinubu emphasized the importance of creating an environment where merit is rewarded, and every public servant feels valued and motivated to give their best.
President Tinubu stressed that public institutions are not personal enterprises and that public servants are employees of the Nigerian people.
He highlighted the importance of embedding a culture of recognition and reward in the country’s public service ethos, noting that despite institutional measures to prevent irregularities, there are still loopholes exploited by those entrusted with the nation’s trust.
“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,” President Tinubu stated.
He also reiterated the administration’s commitment to creating an environment where public servants are motivated to give their best, emphasizing that the public service must reflect a commitment to building a better future for all citizens.
NEAPS, a private sector initiative in partnership with the office of the Secretary to Government of the Federation, received full support from President Tinubu.
He described the initiative as strategic for inspiring the nation’s workforce, setting benchmarks, and creating a ripple effect of positive change throughout society.
“Reward and recognition are the markers of every thriving institution and nation,” President Tinubu noted, adding that the essence of any successful entity is its ability to honour those who uphold its values and drive its progress.
Praising Nigerian public servants, President Tinubu highlighted their vital role in national progress and the need to remember and motivate them to inspire others.
He acknowledged the crucial role of NEAPS in introducing more role models to the nation and recognizing the excellence with which the awardees have served the nation.
In a related development, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, has charged communication managers across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies to prioritize the safeguarding of government documents and ensure the dissemination of correct and truthful information that upholds national security.
Akume delivered the charge at a One-Day Capacity Building session on the Role of the Official Secrets Acts in Maintaining Confidentiality and National Security.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary, General Services Office in his office, Akume stressed the gravity of leaking official secrets, describing it as a felony without defence under Nigerian law.