From Joseph Asegba, Yola
President Ahmed Bola Tinibu has awarded Adamawa state Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri a Nigeria Excellence Award in Public Service (NEAPS) on Infrastructure Development at an event held in the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja,
The award is a collaborative effort between Strategic Best Media and the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and presented to Governor Fintiri among others by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
This marks the second time Governor Fintiri has received this prestigious award for the second time for having previously been honoured by former President Muhammadu Buhari, recognising his outstanding achievements in infrastructure development.
Speaking at the event, President Bola Tinubu implored Nigerian public servants to live up to their expectations as a public trust, where they must all be accountable to the citizens.
Tinubu urged them to always be guided by the fact that the nation’s public institutions are not personal enterprises, and that, as public servants, they are employees of the Nigerian people.
He restated his administration’s determination “to create an environment where merit is rewarded, and where every public servant feels valued and motivated to give their best.”
According to Mr President, is not just about the awards ceremony, but about embedding a culture of recognition and reward in the ethos of the country’s public service.
President Tinubu was represented by his deputy, Vice President Kashim Shettima, at the event noted that some loopholes are still being exploited by those saddled with the nation’s trust despite the institutional measures put in place to prevent any form of irregularities in the public service.
Delivering the president’s speech titled, “Honouring the Heartbeats of Public Service,” VP Shettima stated: “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.
“Even though we have set in place institutional measures to forestall any form of dysfunction in our public service, there are still cracks often exploited by those given the trust of the nation. But what we must never get tired of doing is reminding ourselves that our public institutions are not personal enterprises, and for that, each of us is an employee of the Nigerian citizen.”
Underlining the significance of the Nigeria Excellence Awards in Public Service (NEAPS), a private sector initiative in partnership with the office of the Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), President Tinubu gave the initiative his full support, saying it is strategic to inspire the bulk of the nation’s workforce, “Set benchmarks and create a ripple effect of positive change throughout our society.”
He noted that: “Reward and recognition are the very markers of every thriving institution, and indeed, nation,” even as he noted that “the essence of any successful entity, whether a private enterprise or public institution, lies in its ability to honour those who work to uphold its values and drive its progress.
“Our labour force remains the ultimate reflection of our principles, as practised by men and women who rise every day with a commitment to building a better future for all citizens. We therefore owe these silent architects of our national progress more than just a debt of gratitude.”
The president showered praises on Nigerian public servants, maintaining that their place must be remembered to motivate them to inspire others and make clear “that excellence is not an orphan.”
Beyond a mere ceremony to recognise the unsung heroes who keep the wheels of government and society turning beyond expectations, President Tinubu said NEAPS also plays a crucial role in introducing “More role models to a nation in search of mentors and to tell the award.
