The Council of Retired Federal Permanent Secretaries (CORFEPS) held its yearly general meeting (AGM), last week, Wednesday, December 14, 2022, to elect a new executive and formally pronounce the transfer of its headquarters from Lagos to Abuja with effect from January 1, 2023.
The new executive is made up of Mahmud Yayale Ahmed (Chairman); Ebele Okeke (1st Vice Chairman); Mr. Akin Arikawe (2nd Vice Chairman); Dr. Ibrahim Jalo Daudu (Secretary General); Bulus Zom Lolo (Assistant Secretary General); Dr. Ochi Achinivu (Treasurer); Mrs. Kehinde Ajoni (Legal Adviser); Mr. Sabiu Zakari (Financial Secretary); Dr. Adaoha Okwuosa (Social Secretary); Dr. Goke Adegoroye (Publicity Secretary); Mrs. Elizabeth Emuren (Auditor); Mr. Bassey Akpanyung (Chairman Research Committee); Dr. Lami Hamza and Mr. Japh Nwosu (Members).
Many members, who could not be present at the venue, participated via Zoom from their homes in Lagos, Abuja, and London.
The Board of Trustees whose rank has also suffered depletion over the years, given the death of distinguished older colleagues, like Hamzat Ahmadu, Mrs. Francesca Emanuel and recently, Akporode Clark, was repopulated for the approval of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) with the election of Yayale Ahmed, Abdul’Talib S. Umar, Mr. Moses Akpobasah, Ebele O. Okeke, Mr. Fortunatus O. Williams and Dr. Edet A. Ekerendu to the Board. Major Gen (rtd) Olu Bajowa, Joan Toyosi Ayo and Femi George served as the election panel.
CORFEPS was established in 2004, with Chief Philip Asiodu as its foundation Chairman. It objectives include: periodic assessment of the overall performance of the nation, and giving constructive advice on key public policy issues; and assisting to restore and maintain the proper role of the civil service as a non-partisan organ to serve the government and the nation.
Ahmed was Head of the Civil Service of the Federation from 2000 until 2007, when he was appointed Minister of Defence, after which he served as Secretary to the Government of the Federation for the later part of the Yar’Adua cum Jonathan administrations in 2009-2011.
Appointed Permanent Secretary in 1994, Ahmed is the bridge between the older, glorious generation of permanent secretaries who served between 1960 and 1995 and those who have been in the leadership of the Federal Civil Service from 1995 to date.
