The Permanent Secretary of the State House, Mr. Temitope Fashedemi, has assured retiring staff of the Presidency that their years of service remain valuable and will no longer go unrecognised, announcing the institutionalisation of an annual reward and recognition programme.
Fashedemi gave the assurance on Tuesday while speaking at a reception organised in honour of retiring staff at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja.
He said the initiative was aimed at ending the long-standing culture where public servants exited service “in silence” after decades of dedication.
According to him, the State House will henceforth formally celebrate retirees every year, ensuring their careers are marked with gratitude and dignity.
“Your service is valuable. Don’t be a stranger to us. Reach out to your colleagues here whenever necessary,” Fashedemi told the retirees, urging them to remain part of the State House family and continue to offer mentorship and institutional memory when needed.
He stressed that welfare, recognition and rewards have become key priorities in public service management and will guide how the Presidency honours its workforce.
“We must mark exits with gratitude, not indifference. Somebody cannot spend 35 years of their life and just stop showing up as if nothing happened. If we don’t celebrate ourselves, nobody will celebrate us,” he said.
The Permanent Secretary explained that the reception was the first of its kind since his assumption of office and was deliberately designed to accommodate as many retirees as possible, including those who exited service months earlier.
He assured that subsequent editions would be held regularly.
Fashedemi also disclosed that each retiree would receive a tangible gift as a token of appreciation for their service, adding that the initiative aligns with ongoing Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan (FCSSIP)25 reforms, which emphasise staff welfare, safe workspaces, adequate tools and structured recognition.
Speaking on behalf of the retirees, Dr. Acho Terungwa called on the Permanent Secretary to create a special niche for State House staff, particularly health workers, who he said often do not enjoy special privileges despite public perception.
“We as doctors, nurses and other health personnel may not be special people, but the services we offer are special,” Terungwa said, urging Fashedemi to personally conduct a hands-on assessment of the State House Medical Centre to further improve its operations.
Also speaking, Dr. Ngozi Mmamelu, representing the Chairman of the Medical Advisory Council of the State House Medical Centre, said the facility had moved past its previous challenges and was now operating as a united team committed to restoring its reputation.
“We have moved on from that scenario, and everybody is working together, all hands are on deck to bring back the glory,” she said, crediting the support of the Permanent Secretary and other senior officials.
The retirees honoured at the event cut across various cadres, including directors, medical doctors, stock verifiers, accounts officers, executive officers, technical and works personnel, and chief driver mechanics. They received parting gifts in recognition of their years of service to the Presidency.
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