The Ministry of Regional Development has encouraged retirees to remain engaged and continue to leverage their knowledge and expertise in contributing to national development following their retirement.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr Mary Ada Ogbe, made the call in Abuja on Wednesday during a retirement ceremony honouring 24 retirees who have served in various capacities within the ministry.
She acknowledged the retirees’ dedication and contributions to the development of Nigeria.
In a statement made available by the Head of Information and Public Relations of the Ministry, Sani Datti, the Permanent Secretary said retirement marked a transition to a new phase of life, stressing that the experience accumulated by the retirees remained valuable to the country.
“We are celebrating 24 retirees this morning. We celebrate you, and we are grateful for your commitment, dedication, and service to the nation,” she said.
She also drew the retirees’ attention to government welfare packages and severance benefits, noting that the provisions were intended to offer financial stability as they transition into retirement and await their pensions.
Dr Ogbe encouraged the retirees to continue sharing their knowledge and experience with the ministry and society, saying their contributions should not end with their formal exit from public service.
“To those who worked directly with me, I sincerely thank you for your patience, understanding, and support throughout our time together,” she stated.
In her welcome address, the Director of Human Resources Management, Tabitha Dagyol, described the retirees as key contributors to the growth and development of the ministry.
“You have served this nation, and in particular, the Ministry of Regional Development, with unquantifiable loyalty, integrity, and commitment. For years, some for over three decades, you bore the burden of national development,” she said.
Dagyol noted that the retirees cut across different grade levels and cadres, including the Directorate, Administrative, Technical and Support cadres, adding that their service had spanned the ministry’s evolution from the former Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs to its present expanded mandate.
“Each one of you carried a brick in building this Ministry from its formative stage as the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs to its present expanded mandate as the Ministry of Regional Development. Your footprints are indelible,” she said.
She described retirement as the beginning of a new chapter that could provide opportunities for rest, family, community service and personal pursuits, whilUrging serving officers to emulate the retirees’ dedication.
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“Let today be a lesson for us. Let us learn from the dedication of our retirees. Let us serve with the consciousness that one day, we will also be celebrated in this manner,” Dagyol said.
Speaking on behalf of the retirees, former Director of Finance and Accounts, Akpan Etop Andy, expressed appreciation to the ministry’s management for honouring them and advised serving staff to treat their colleagues with kindness and support.
He said the way officers treated others during their years of service would influence how they would be remembered after retirement.
