The Permanent Secretary-State House, Tijjani Umar says all public servants must work hard at all times, to justify their job and wages.

Umar made the declaration om Friday during the State House SERVICOM Unit Awards for the year 2021.

He said subordinates at every workplace must be treated with respect, in order to motivate them to do more for their organizations.

Umar, who was at a point in his career the nodal officer of the SERVICOM unit of the State House before rising to his current position of a Permanent Secretary, said: “This occasion is actually my own and our own together, I have served the Ministerial SERVICOM unit diligently and I enjoyed every bit of it. I gave my best and I loved what I was doing though not a very high profile job, but it was a job I got full satisfaction from.

“SERVICOM was a stepping stone for me to be where I am today. I did not foresee it but at the point where God willed it, it happened. If I didn’t take those responsibilities very seriously, probably I would have missed this opportunity today. There are people who shoot down their own goodwill and good luck. So, we all have a small role to play in our destinies.

“Staying focused, committed and truthful, as we carry out our official responsibilities, is very important in shaping our ascension to greater responsibilities.

“Treating people with respect and giving them their due is very important. If you deny others their dues, you will not also get your own at the point where you are supposed to get it.”

He used the occasion to announce the presidential wing unit of the State House Clinic currently under construction would be completed and inaugurated in December this year.

“The presidential wing of the State House Clinic, which we laid the foundation in on 1st November 2021, just seven months down the road, we are almost at 75 percent.

“The aspiration of the President is to leave a legacy for the in-coming President, for himself, the Vice President and everyone that is entitled to use that facility, is that by the time the clinic is completed, we would have answered the question of ‘why don’t we have something befitting as a health facility?’

“By the grace of God, when the President is able to commission that facility in December, it will show the world that we now have a befitting health facility in the country for the President and every deserving person”, he said.

Speaking particularly on the award ceremony, Umar said all leaders must appreciate people who help them execute their responsibilities.

He stressed that Public service is all about making things possible for others.

The Permanent Secretary therefore, congratulated the award recipients, as he urged those who missed out to work harder.

The National Coordinator of SERVICOM, Mrs Nnenna Akajemeli, said the award ceremony serves as a war of rewarding and honouring excellence at government agencies.

“We are here to reward and honour those who have served outstandingly well. The awardees have gone through so much rigour and just few were chosen from a huge number.

“We in the SERVICOM unit are always part and parcel of driving improvement in the State House. Today we are giving awards to deserving Staff of the State House. It gladdens the heart when somebody gives you a pat on the back for a good job done. It comes with a magic touch, when you are appreciated.

“I have no doubt that this annual award ceremony among other things, promotes and improves Staff productivity in the State House”, she said.

She described the State House Permanent Secretary as someone who is passionate about SERVICOM and focused on making service delivery in the State House better.

“Thank you for the great value you bring to the presence of ensuring that people are served right”,  She told the Permanent Secretary.

Nodal Officer in charge of the SERVICOM unit in the State House, Mr Abia Onanawo said 28 Staff were recommended by a special committee for the 2021 awards but only eight made it to the final stage.

Responding on behalf of other recipients, Monday Owenegu, who happens to be a serial awardee at various levels, thanked the State House for finding them worthy, adding that the award would spur them to do more for the government and their country.

Other awardees were John Faith, Ama Francis, John Okorie, Sanusi Sani, Abimbola Fakuade, Abbas Haruna, and Mrs Felicia Ogbonna, who rose from the position of a cleaner to that of a confidential secretary in the President’s office.

The Permanent Secretary, State House, Mr. Tijjani Umar also scooped home two awards, presented by his Staff, for being a good leader and motivator.