2022 CIVIL SERVICE WEEK CELEBRATION

PROTOCOL

On behalf of the Honourable Minister, Engr. Suleiman H. Adamu, FNSE, FAEng, Management and Staff of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources, it is with pleasure and great excitement that I welcome you all to this Special Town Hall Meeting designed for the celebration of staff to mark the 2022 Civil Service Week.

2.      It is heart-warming that the Leader of the Federal Civil Service,  the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan has honoured us with her presence and participation at this event. I welcome my colleagues Permanent Secretaries and other distinguished invited guests, who are our Special Guests.  Thank you for the honour of your participation at this event, to commemorate the 2022 Nigeria Civil Service Week. Your presence underscores the importance of inter-ministerial cooperation and the priority you place on staff Welfare, as encapsulated in the Federal Civil Service Strategy Implementation Plan (FCSSIP) 2021 – 2025.

3.        The celebration of the Civil Service Week is a yearly event in Nigeria, in compliance with the 1999 Tangier Declaration by African Ministers for Public Service, which set aside June 23^rd every year for the celebration of African Public Service Day (APSD) to recognize the values and virtues of the Service to the community.

4.      For the 2021 Federal Civil Service Week, the Management of Federal Ministry of Water Resources, undertook series of events to say “thank you” to her Essential Workers for rendering exceptional public service during the unusual and trying time of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is pertinent to put on record that, the Federal Ministry of Water Resources was highly commended by the OHCSF for going the extra mile in organizing a fun-filled and meaningful celebration of her Staff to mark the 2021 Federal Civil Service Week.

5.      Since the last Civil Service Week celebration in 2021, the Office has embarked on programmes and activities to improve the welfare of staff in the Ministry.  Some of these programmes, include:

• Completion of the Ministry’s Welfare Projects (Canteen, Clinic and Gym) and commencement of their operations,
• Welfare of Staff,
• implementation of the Ministry’s Rewards and Recognition Policy System,
• Various Capacity Building Programmes for Staff,
• Staff Promotion,
• active involvement in the on-going Public Service Reforms and Programmes, i.e. SOPs, PMS, IPPIS, HR Module,
• organization of a Retreat on Performance Management System,
• Support for Sporting Activities, and
• Improved Labour and Management Relations.

6.        Today’s celebration by the Federal Ministry of Water Resources is part of the 2022 Civil Service week-long activities in the Federal Civil Service being organized by the OHCSF from 17^th – 23^rd June 2022, with series of events aimed at highlighting innovations and rewarding excellence in Public Service.

7.        Management has chosen this Special Town Hall Meeting as the best medium and unique opportunity to recognize, acknowledge and celebrate our Staff for their resilience, hard work, dedication, and commitment despite the challenges they face in the discharge of their duties.

8.      Today, we publicly acknowledge the contributions of every Staff, individually and as a team, to the successes recorded in the Ministry in this challenging time. We have progressively moved towards attaining our vision as a Ministry due to the commitment and dedication exhibited by the staff. In the Ministry, every one of us is a part that makes up the whole, and we have all contributed our quota, leading to the results we have achieved so far as a Ministry. It is our expectation that the celebration of the Staff by the Management would boost staff morale, give you a sense of belonging, motivate you to better and greater service, and consequently, improve efficiency and service delivery.

9.        The highlight of activities at this Special Town Hall Meeting, include the presentation of:

• the Ministry’s Staff Welfare Newsletter by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.
• Awards to deserving staff, and
• the Ministry’s Standard Operating Procedures Manual to the Honourable Minister and Staff by the Permanent Secretary.

10.    At this juncture, Ladies & Gentlemen, I wish to acknowledge the visionary leadership of the Honourable Minister, whose commitment to the welfare of Staff is second to none.  Indeed, the celebration of staff by the Ministry under his able leadership, during the 2021 Public Service Day was applauded by staff and recognised by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, for special mention. By being visionary, the Federal Ministry of Water Resources has taken a giant leap, serving as a trail blazer for a Service-wide project, in the implementation of the Rewards and Recognition Programme in the Federal Civil Service.

11.    Finally, I wish to congratulate the three (3) Awardees for their outstanding performance.  We are all winners, and the Awardees are our representatives. They are our message to the Federal Civil Service and Nigerians of the stuff we are made of.  We will continue to recognise and reward excellence, hard work and dedication to work.

12.    I am certain that the Awardees know that the reward for hard work is more work. Your Award and Recognition has thrown you up as persons to whom more responsibilities could be entrusted. I, therefore, urge you to roll-up your sleeves for greater responsibilities that await you both in the Ministry and the Federal Civil Service.  Today, we do not ask you to give, but rather ask that you receive, having met all mandatory achievable criteria.

13.    On this note, I wish to thank you all for your continuous support to the vision and aspirations of the Ministry. Thank you for playing your part in our efforts to ensure good management of our nation’s water resources, end open defecation, and improve access to sustainable water, sanitation, and hygiene services to all Nigerians.

12.    Once more, thank you for your kind attention. I now invite you to relax and enjoy this Special Town Hall Meeting as we celebrate staff to mark the 2022 Civil Service Week.

Mrs. Didi Walson-Jack, MCIPM, mni

Permanent Secretary

20^th June 2022