Each worker received N500,000 in instant transfers as the ceremony went on last Thursday. The cash gifts, according to the chairman of the foundation, Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, was a token of the foundation’s “recognition of the importance of the civil service as a key stakeholder but the least rewarded in the country.”
The recipients were drawn from various Ministries, Agencies and Departments (MDAs) in the Service and they cut across different categories of workers.
Aig-Imoukhuede said the award was established in furtherance of the foundation’s mission to drive public sector transformation for improved public service delivery in the country.
He said: “We recognise the crucial roles the civil service plays in national development and how the work of civil servants in implementing government’s policies and programmes can lead to a better life for all Nigerians. It is therefore necessary that we recognise and reward those civil servants who diligently carry out their duties for the benefit of all Nigerians. We hope that this award will serve as incentives to all civil servants to strive for professionalism and excellence in their work.”
Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr. Folashade Esan, in her speech, recalled that the 42 beneficiaries were the winners of this year’s Civil Service Award, which was announced last June during the 2022 Civil Service Day.
“President Muhammadu Buhari was present at the ceremony. They were chosen based on criteria tied to the core values of the civil service: loyalty, accountability, meritocracy, efficiency and professionalism,” she said.
It was at that June event that Aig-Imoukhuede made the pledge to reward the awardees with cash gifts. Last Thursday’s event was a fulfilment of the pledge. Like previous Civil Service Awards, the awardees were selected through a thorough screening process.
During the award ceremony, Aig-Imoukhuede announced that the cash gifts would now be given out yearly to civil servants who emerge winners of the Civil Service Day Awards. It is christened The Emily Aig-Imoukhuede Memorial Endowment Fund in honour of his late mother who passed away last year.
In addition to the endowment fund, the Foundation is also working with the Office of the Head of Civil Service to deliver many other initiatives such as facilitating the digitalisation of the civil service and providing strategic support for a culture of change campaign.
The Foundation also offers scholarships to civil servants at the University of Oxford for capacity building and runs an in-country executive training programme for future public sector leaders.
