By Stella Omona
The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HoCSF), Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan, CFR has told civil servants in Adamawa State to embrace activities that promote peace, unity and tolerance for one another toward a better Nigeria.
She stated this at the commissioning of a newly built Federal Civil Service Club, named after her in Yola, Adamawa State.
In her speech, she emphasised that the Federal Civil Service Clubs, located in various parts of the country, are being adequately renovated due to the importance the Federal Government and the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) attach to the welfare of civil servants. According to her, civil servants, who work very hard towards ensuring the growth and development of the nation, need good facilities, as well as conducive environment to relax and interact amongst themselves after work, hence, the approval to rehabilitate and build, where necessary. She added that Civil Service Clubs are also meant to uplift the image of the service, while giving civil Slservants a sense of pride and comradeship.
While urging the civil servants to maintain their confidence by constantly improving themselves, she advised them to be dynamic and always be ready to change with the times.
Yemi – Esan enjoined stakeholders of the Civil Service Club in Yola to ensure that activities in the Club are dignifying, so as to attract as many personalities as possible for increased patronage that will yield revenue for the Federal Government. She encouraged civil servants to think out of the box and partner with Institutions within the state to maintain and keep the club vibrant.
The HoCSF took time to interact with federal civil servants in Adamawa State, where questions bothering on delayed death benefits of deceased civil servants, part-tme teachers that have worked for several years without full employment; alleged fear of stoppage of retirement benefits by PFAs after 70years; extension of Aig – Imohkuede Foundation’s training sessions to the states; review of pension fund administration for easy accessibility and the labour union’s concerns on salary increments, promotion arrears; affordable housing for civil servants, among others, featured.
These attracted adequate responses from her and the Permanent Secretary, Service Welfare Office – OHCSF, Dr. Ngozi Onwudiwe.
In her remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Service Welfare Office, disclosed that the rebuilding of the Club marks the reawakening of supervisory role of the OHCSF, adding that through the efforts of the HoCSF, the Federal Civil Service Clubs, nationwide, now have a budget. While calling on the managers of the club to be innovative, she implored Federal Civil Servants in Adamawa State to take ownership of the project, maintain, as well as sustain it.
In his Welcome Address, the Chairman, Federal Civil Service Club, Adamawa State, Bldr. Mohammed Aminu Sambo, intimated the audience on the condition of the Club that pressured him to write to the HoCSF including the pictures of the old and dilapidated structure, which elicited quick response from the OHCSF.
According to him, the intervention was unprecedented, which necessitated the naming of the Club after the HoCSF.
Some civil servants in separate interviews, expressed joy for the new face of the Club, while others requested for additional facilities to make the place more lively.
