The federal government honoured three exceptional civil servants on Saturday night with significant rewards, including two Sports Utility Vehicles and a two-bedroom flat, during the 2025 Federal Civil Service Rewards and Recognition Awards Ceremony in Abuja.
The ceremony, which served as the grand finale of the 2025 Civil Service Week celebration, recognised outstanding performance and dedication within Nigeria’s public service sector.
Mrs. Hadiza Bahijjatu from the Federal Ministry of Environment received an SUV for her exceptional service. Mr. Chukwudi Ekwenugo of the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy was awarded an SUV and a cash prize of N500,000. Meanwhile, Mr. Oluwabamidele Kogbe from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development received a two-bedroom flat.
An additional 15 civil servants were recognised with various gifts, including laptops, plaques, and cash prizes.
President Bola Tinubu, represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, praised the dedication of Nigerian civil servants during the event. He described them as the “engine room” of national governance and policy implementation.
“We are here to celebrate the dedication and exceptional contributions of our civil servants. Their tireless efforts reflect our shared commitment to national progress,” the president stated.
Tinubu stated that his administration’s commitment to public service reforms includes enhanced welfare packages and stronger accountability mechanisms. He stressed that performance standards must be institutionalised across all ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs).
“Performance must no longer be optional. MDAs must institutionalise consequence management, rewarding integrity and excellence, while ensuring that misconduct is duly sanctioned,” he declared.
Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Walson-Jack, characterised the awardees as “quiet reformers” whose consistent dedication has significantly contributed to improved service delivery and system strengthening.
“This evening, we celebrate not rank, but impact. These civil servants consistently show up, meet deadlines, and drive change. Punctuality and regular attendance must once again define our service culture,” she remarked.
The 2025 Civil Service Week featured the inaugural International Civil Service Conference (ICSC), which attracted delegates from around the world. Walson-Jack described the conference as “a memorable event in the history of Nigeria’s public service.”
The ICSC provided a platform to showcase Nigeria’s reform initiatives, including digitalisation efforts, leadership training programmes, and performance management systems, while working to redefine civil service standards.
The Head of Civil Service urged MDAs to increase their participation in future award processes, noting that some agencies failed to submit nominations while others did not meet the established criteria for recognition.
Mrs. Bahijjatu expressed her gratitude for the recognition, stating, “I thank God for this honour. I also hope that those who were not recognised this year will be acknowledged in future, as many civil servants work diligently behind the scenes.”
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