No fewer than 18 federal civil servants were honoured by the Federal Government and other stakeholders for exemplary service during the 2025 civil service awards night which took place on Saturday night.

Two federal ministries were also recognised.

In her remarks, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Walson-Jack, described the honourees as ?quiet reformers? who have consistently demonstrated excellence, integrity, and dedication in service to the nation.

?They show up on time, meet deadlines, write policies, fix systems, and still manage to maintain a smile.

?Tonight, we pause to acknowledge the busyness and say: we see you. We thank you. We honour you,? she said.

She noted that the awards ceremony is now a fixture on the civil service calendar and serves as a tangible way of celebrating public servants whose daily work often goes unnoticed.

The ceremony followed a successful maiden International Civil Service Conference (ICSC) held on Wednesday and Thursday at the Eagles Square in Abuja, which brought together over 5,000 delegates from across the world to exchange ideas and explore innovations in public sector management.

The Head of Service praised President Bola Tinubu for his unwavering support for civil service reforms, citing recent strides in digitisation, performance management, and welfare, including the new minimum wage and pension reforms.

She also used the occasion to call for greater punctuality and discipline in the service, insisting that early resumption and consistent attendance must become the new face of reform.

?Resuming work by 8am is not just a rule; it is a culture we must reclaim and uphold. When we arrive on time, we demonstrate respect for the system, our colleagues, and the citizens we serve,? she said.

While applauding the efforts of those honoured, Walson-Jack encouraged other public servants not to be discouraged if they were not recognised this year.

?Recognition may take time, but it will come. Do your work so well that it cannot be ignored,? she charged.

However, she expressed disappointment that some MDAs either failed to submit nominations or put forward candidates who did not meet the criteria, urging better compliance and seriousness in future editions.

In his address, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, who represented Tinubu, commended the dedication and resilience of Nigeria?s civil servants, describing them as the backbone of governance and national development.

He noted that the Tinubu administration remains fully committed to creating an enabling environment for the public service to thrive through reforms that promote merit, innovation, and accountability.

According to the list of awardees, one civil servant from the Federal Ministry of Environment, Dr. Bahijjatu Hadiza, won the presidential star prize of an SUV, an award plaque, a laptop, a foreign short course, a masterclass programme, and an award certificate.

Another civil servant from the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, Chukwudi Ekwenugo, won an SUV, N500,000; a laptop, a foreign short course, among others.

Other award winners went home with cash prizes ranging from N250,000 to N500,000 alongside laptops and houses, among others. (Sunday PUNCH)

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