By Anastasia Agunwa :
Federal Government has rewarded 40 civil servants nominated from different Ministries Departments and Agencies(MDAs) with N500,000 each for their outstanding performance in public service.
The civil servants who were part of those recently honoured by the Federal Government in June during the Civil Service Week, received the cash rewards sponsored by the AIG-Imoukhuede Foundation on Thursday in Abuja, at a presentation ceremony held at the Office of the Head of Civil Service of Federation.
Speaking shortly before the presentation, the Chairman of the Foundation, Aigboje AIG-Imoukhuede expressed regrets that the public service is the least recognized sector in the country, despite the relevance of their job to nation building.
He explained that the funds were a token to show appreciation for their hardwork, urging the Federal Government and Nigerians to go back to the era of holding civil servants in high esteem.
The Chairman further urged the awardees to be shining examples for other civil servants to emulate.
Also, the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Dr. Folashade Yemi-Esan who commended the awardees pointed out that civil servants unusually celebrated, especially with cash rewards.
While thanking the Foundation for putting smiles on the faces of civil servants, she urged the recipients to make good use of the funds.
Yemi-Esan urged other private sector players to key into the initiative, adding that when civil servants are motivated, they can perform better.
In his Vote of Thanks, one of the awardees, Babatunde Aina, Director, Governance, Cabinet Affairs Office in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, said the gesture has already motivated other civil servants to work harder.
The award which has been renamed ‘The Emily AIG-Imoukhuede Memorial Award for Excellence in Public Service’, in honour of late Pastor Emily, mother of the Chairman and a former civil servant, will now honour 40 outstanding civil servants every year.
