The Permanent Secretary, State House, Temitope Fashedemi, has called on staff to uphold a culture of excellence and professionalism in service delivery, emphasizing the need to set high standards within the public service.
Fashedemi made the appeal on Wednesday in Abuja, according to a statement by Mr. Abiodun Oladunjoye, the State House Director (Information & Public Relations), during the 2025 State House Ministerial Rewards and Recognition Ceremony, an event organised to honour outstanding contributions by staff across various departments.
Represented by the Director of Internal Audit, Adenike Akintola, the Permanent Secretary welcomed attendees and commended their dedication and commitment to duty.
“This ceremony is about recognising individuals whose hard work and dedication have contributed significantly to the success of the State House and public service,” he said.
He stressed that excellence in public service is not optional but a responsibility, noting that every action and decision taken by public servants has direct implications for governance outcomes.
“In public service, excellence is not merely a goal, it is a responsibility, as every task and decision has direct consequences,” he added.
Fashedemi congratulated the award recipients, describing them as role models whose performance sets benchmarks for others within the system. He urged them to remain committed and continue striving for greater accomplishments.
The Permanent Secretary also commended the organisers of the event, including the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, State House management, and members of the award committee, for their efforts in successfully hosting the ceremony. He noted that the event, originally scheduled for 2025, had been postponed due to unforeseen official engagements.
A total of seven awardees, selected from 15 departments, were honoured with plaques, commendation letters, and cash prizes for their exceptional performance.
Among the recipients were Agbor Ebuta, recognised for his swift action in saving the life of a six-month-old baby; Isah Mohammed; and Gabriel Jagaban.
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Other honourees included the ICT Department for innovation, the Squash Team from the Sports Unit for their performance at the Federal Public Service Games, Akanu Oluwagbenga for his reform initiatives, and Seidu Bello for his humanitarian contributions.
Speaking on behalf of the awardees, Bello expressed appreciation to the management for the recognition, describing it 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,” he said.
He noted that the recognition would inspire greater productivity and encourage other staff to strive for excellence, while also reminding awardees of the higher expectations placed upon them.
“When you are honoured, it means more is expected of you, as all eyes are now on your conduct and performance,” he added.
Bello, who reflected on his more than 30 years in public service, described the recognition as particularly meaningful. He also highlighted the cooperative society he founded as a lasting legacy, noting its sustained growth and impact over two decades.
The ceremony was attended by staff from various departments, many of whom expressed satisfaction at the revival of the recognition initiative, describing it as a morale booster and a step toward enhancing institutional performance.
