The Permanent Secretary of the State House, Mr. Temitope Fashedemi, has urged staff to uphold a culture of excellence and professionalism in service delivery, setting the standard for public service.
Fashedemi made the call in Abuja on Wednesday during the 2026 State House Ministerial Rewards and Recognition Ceremony, held to honour staff members for their outstanding contributions to service.
In a statement issued by the State House Director of Information and Public Relations, Abiodun Oladunjoye, the Permanent Secretary, who was represented by the Director of Internal Audit, Dr. Adenike Akintola, welcomed participants and praised their commitment, dedication and exemplary service.
“I warmly welcome you all to this remarkable occasion as we gather to celebrate excellence, dedication and outstanding achievement.
“Today’s ceremony is about recognising individuals whose hard work and dedication have significantly contributed to the success of the State House and public service,” he said.
Fashedemi stressed that excellence in public service remained a responsibility, noting that every action and decision impacts governance outcomes positively or negatively.
“In public service, excellence is not merely a goal; it is a responsibility, as every task and decision has direct consequences.”
He congratulated the awardees, describing them as role models whose performance sets standards for others within the system.
The Permanent Secretary urged the honourees to remain committed and strive for greater accomplishments in their respective duties.
He also commended the organisers of the event, including the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, the management of the State House, and members of the award committee, for a job well done.
The Permanent Secretary said the ceremony, initially scheduled for 2025 was rescheduled due to unforeseen exigencies affecting official engagements.
The event honoured a total of seven awardees from 15 departments with plaques, commendation letters, and cash gifts for their outstanding performance.
The recipients included Dr Agbor Ebuta of the State House Medical Centre for his proactiveness in saving a six-month old baby.
Mr Isah Mohammed, a driver from the Transport Department, and Mr Gabriel Jagaban from the Office of the Permanent Secretary.
Others are the ICT Department for innovation and the Squash Team from the Sports Unit for their performance at the last Federal Public Service Games (FEPSGA).
Also honoured were Mr. Akanu Oluwagbenga, of the Pension Unit of the Department of Administration, for reform initiatives, and Dr. Seidu Bello, a dental surgeon, for his humanitarian impact.
Responding on behalf of the awardees, Dr. Bello expressed gratitude to management for the recognition and described the honour as both motivating and challenging.
“Being selected among many staff for this honour is a great privilege, and we sincerely appreciate the management for finding us worthy,” Bello said.
He said the recognition would inspire greater productivity and encourage other staff to strive for excellence in service delivery.
He commended the management for reviving the awards programme, noting that it would have a positive impact on morale and institutional performance.
He noted that recognition comes with greater responsibility, urging awardees to uphold higher standards as role models within the service.
“When you are honoured, it means more is expected of you because all eyes are now on your conduct and performance,” he said.
Bello also reflected on his decades of service, describing the recognition as particularly significant after over 30 years in public service.
He highlighted the cooperative society he founded as a key legacy, noting its sustained growth and impact over more than two decades.
Staff from various departments attended the event and expressed their joy at the resuscitation of the laudable initiative.
