Public Officials Honored for Excellence Amidst Concerns Over Corruption
President Bola Tinubu has voiced concerns regarding the detrimental impact of corruption on effective public service delivery worldwide. He emphasized the importance of integrity for public officeholders, urging them to strive to leave a positive legacy.
Speaking at the Nigeria Excellence Awards in Public Service (NEAPS) held in Abuja, the President, represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, warned that corruption, in its various forms, continues to undermine the efficiency of public institutions globally.
President Tinubu stressed that Nigeria cannot afford to condone practices that weaken institutions or erode public trust. He highlighted issues such as nepotism, cronyism, political patronage, and a lack of transparency and accountability as significant obstacles to effective governance. These issues, he said, distract public servants from fulfilling their mandates and achieving national aspirations.
The President emphasized his administration’s commitment to addressing systemic challenges that hinder governance. He called on public officials to rise above ingrained habits and demonstrate the highest standards of responsibility and patriotism. He described public service as a sacred trust, urging officers to be accountable, patriotic, and innovative in addressing the country’s challenges.
President Tinubu cautioned that the inconsistent enforcement of laws and institutional mechanisms for holding public servants accountable can create a negative perception among citizens. He expressed hope that leaders would emerge who are committed to doing the right thing and leaving a positive impact.
He commended the organizers of the NEAPS awards for maintaining a credible and independent evaluation process for recognizing outstanding public service performance. President Tinubu expressed satisfaction that 50 individuals had been recognized across various sectors, emphasizing that the awards were based on empirical assessment, not political considerations.
“This award is a validation of your efforts and a motivation to continue working towards a better Nigeria,” he stated, thanking the honorees and organizers for their contributions to national development.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, speaking on behalf of the SGF, praised the initiative as a transparent and independent evaluation of public officers’ performance. He emphasized the private-sector-driven nature of the assessment and nomination process.
“This private-sector-driven initiative has independently assessed public servants and nominated today’s recipients,” Idris said. “It is indeed a scorecard of our public officers, and I am glad Mr. President is here to recognise and challenge you to do more.”
He lauded The Best Strategic Media for its rigorous selection process and reaffirmed the SGF’s commitment to sustaining the partnership to promote excellence in public service. Idris urged the awardees to remain steadfast in contributing to national growth and development.
Notable Award Recipients
Several prominent figures were among those honored at the NEAPS awards ceremony, including:
- Senator George Akume, SGF
- Mohammed Idris, Minister of Information and National Orientation
- Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT)
- Wale Edun, Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance
- Festus Keyamo, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development
- Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, Minister of Women Affairs
- Taiwo Oyedele, FCA, Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms
- Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA)
- Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC)
Governors Recognized for Public Service
A number of state governors were also recognized for their contributions to public service:
- Peter Mbah (Enugu)
- Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom)
- Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri (Adamawa)
- Bala Mohammed (Bauchi)
- Abba Kabir Yusuf (Kano)
- Umar Mohammed Bago (Niger)
- Usman Ahmed Ododo (Kogi)
- Dauda Lawal (Zamfara)
The NEAPS awards, organized by The Best Strategic Media in collaboration with the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, represent a private-sector effort to promote and celebrate excellence in public service.
