*Photo: Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, OON, mni,Head of the Civil Service of the Federation*
Head of the Civil Service of the Federation ( HCSF) ,Mrs Didi Esther Walson-Jack has said punctuality and regular attendance are the
foundation of excellence in public service.
She stated this on Saturday in her speech at the 2025 Federal Civil Service Rewards and Recognition Awards Ceremony held at the State House Banquet Hall, Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja.
She said: ” Let me emphasise this clearly: punctuality and regular attendance are the
foundation of excellence in public service. Resuming work by 8:00 a.m. is not just a rule; it is a culture we must reclaim and uphold.
“When we arrive on time,
we demonstrate respect for the system, our colleagues, and the citizens we serve. Going forward, let us make punctuality and attendance the new face
of reform in our Civil Service.”
The HCSF was full of commendation for award recipients, describing them as reformers.
According to her, “These awardees are not just workers. They are reformers, quiet reformers.They show up on time, meet deadlines, write policies, fix systems, and still manage to maintain a smile.
“Their commitment to duty is not measured only by output, but by their presence, consistently accounted for and dependable.”
She added that ” These honourees are not perfect, but they are purposeful. And tonight, we pause to acknowledge the busyness and say: we
see you. We thank you. We honour you.”
Mrs Walson-Jack however noted that “…you do not need to be in the spotlight to make an impact. The light shines brightest on those who serve with integrity in the shadows. And this award ceremony, now a fixture on our Civil Service calendar, is one of the ways we say: excellence will not go unnoticed.”
Read her full speech below:
SPEECH BY MRS. DIDI ESTHER WALSON-JACK, OON, mni,
HEAD OF THE CIVIL SERVICE OF THE FEDERATION, AT THE 2025 FEDERAL CIVIL SERVICE REWARDS AND RECOGNITION AWARDS CEREMONY, ON SATURDAY, 28TH JUNE 2025, AT THE STATE HOUSE BANQUET HALL, PRESIDENTIAL VILLA, ASO ROCK, ABUJA.
PROTOCOL
The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed
Tinubu, GCFR, here ably represented by one of my closest allies in the
Implementation of the Renewed Hope Agenda,the secretary to the government of the Federation , Senator George Akume
The First Gentleman of the Federal Civil Service, Hon. Nimi Walson-Jack, my dear husband
The Right Honourable Speaker of the House of Representatives, here ably represented by the chairman of the House committee on Public Sector
Matters Hon Sani Bala, FNSE
Transformative Permanent Secretaries,
Heads of Civil Services from across Nigeria,
Our Development Partners and Captains of Industry,
The international President of FIDA Mrs Ezinwa Okoreafor and her amiable husband
Distinguished Guests,
The outstanding Civil Servants we are here to recognize and award
My dear hardworking and diligent civil servants
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Good evening, everyone!
What a joy it is to be gathered in celebration, not of position, but of purpose; not of rank, but of impact.
2. Welcome to the 2025 Federal Civil Service Rewards and Recognition Awards Ceremony, where we do what we do too little of: celebrate ourselves!
This evening, we come together to honour the unsung heroes who breathe life into public service.
3. This Awards night is the grand finale of a historic Civil Service week. Just days ago, we hosted the Maiden International Civil Service Conference (ICSC)
right here in Abuja, with delegates from across the world. We heard ideas. We shared innovations. We redefined what it means to be a 21st-century Civil Servant. And now, tonight, we bring that energy home by celebrating those who have lived those ideals long before they became hashtags.
4. I must thank His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for his unwavering support. The Renewed Hope Agenda is not just a slogan; it is a
commitment. A commitment to dignity, fairness, innovation, and reward. His Excellency’s presence at the International Civil Service Conference, where he graciously declared the event open, was a powerful demonstration of his dedication to the Civil Service and its transformation agenda. From the new minimum wage to pension reforms, the President has made it clear: our Civil Servants matter.
5. The ICSC was about vision. Tonight is about validation, validation that our Civil Service is not asleep. It is awake, alert, and advancing. Our theme this week has been transformation. And transformation, my friends, doesn’t happen in boardrooms alone; it happens in the daily dedication of men and
women like the ones we are celebrating tonight.
6. These awardees are not just workers. They are reformers, quiet reformers. They show up on time, meet deadlines, write policies, fix systems, and still
manage to maintain a smile. Their commitment to duty is not measured only by output, but by their presence, consistently accounted for and dependable.
Let me emphasise this clearly: punctuality and regular attendance are the foundation of excellence in public service. Resuming work by 8:00 a.m. is not just a rule; it is a culture we must reclaim and uphold. When we arrive on time, we demonstrate respect for the system, our colleagues, and the citizens we serve. Going forward, let us make punctuality and attendance the new face
of reform in our Civil Service.
These honourees are not perfect, but they are purposeful. And tonight, we pause to acknowledge the busyness and say: we see you. We thank you. We honour you.
7. Let me say this clearly: you do not need to be in the spotlight to make an impact. The light shines brightest on those who serve with integrity in the shadows. And this award ceremony, now a fixture on our Civil Service
calendar, is one of the ways we say: excellence will not go unnoticed.
8. The future of public service is not coming; it is already here. At the International Civil Service Conference, we laid out our aspirations. But this Civil
Service is not just talking. We are doing: we have digitised core processes across MDAs; we are training Civil Servants not just to manage systems, but to
lead change; we are reforming performance management so that merit speaks louder than mediocrity; and yes, we are putting people first because
our greatest asset is not our policies, but our people.
9. To tonight’s stars, the awardees, thank you for showing that the Civil Service can be noble, not just necessary. Excellence can be achieved every
day, not just in exceptional moments. You are the reason this Service is not just
enduring, but evolving. Please, wear your medals with pride, but let your humility shine even brighter.
10. To those who didn’t get an award tonight: your work is not invisible. You may not be on this stage, but your time is coming. Keep showing up, give your
best, and continually raise the bar. Recognition may take time, but it will come. Do not give up because excellence is never wasted. Let this moment
challenge us all to dig deeper, aim higher, and commit more boldly to the values that define true service. The charge is simple: do your work so well that
it cannot be ignored.
11. While tonight is a moment of celebration, it is also an opportunity for reflection. During the nomination process, it became evident that some MDAs
did not submit nominations at all. In other cases, some of the nominees put forward did not meet the established criteria for their categories. This serves as
a reminder that recognition can only follow meaningful participation, one anchored in merit and alignment with the standards set. As we look to future editions, we urge all MDAs to engage proactively, nominate diligently, and uphold the excellence these awards are meant to celebrate.
12. Let us clap louder than complaints, celebrate more than we criticise, and remember that at the heart of government is one powerful word: Service.
13. To all Civil Servants across the country: this is your moment. Own it.
Honour it. Multiply it. Congratulations to the awardees. Thank you to the
organisers. And thank you to every Civil Servant building Nigeria from the inside
out. Let the music play. Let the dancing begin. And let the spirit of excellence
never fade.
God bless the Nigerian Civil Service and God bless the Federal Republic of
Nigeria.
Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, OON, mni
Head of the Civil Service of the Federation
Saturday, 28th June 2025.