…. says activities to centre on national development
By Stella Odueme
The Council of Retired Federal Permanent Secretaries (CORFEPS) has unveiled activities to mark its 2024 week holding from March 5th to 7th which it says will be annually celebrated with a focus on national development.
CORFEPS, a body duly registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission, has membership comprising of top civil servants who retired after attaining the grade of Permanent Secretary and higher.
Unveiling the activities on Monday in Abuja, its National Publicity Secretary, Dr. Goke Adegoroye said in pursuant to its aims and objectives, CORFEPS under its current Chairman, Mahmud Yayale Ahmed, has decided to institute the CORFEPS WEEK as a yearly event preferably in the first quarter of each year, commencing this year where, in addition to the Annual General Meeting (AGM) as stipulated in its Articles of Association, will focus on an issue of national importance and chart the way forward.
“The CORFEPS WEEK this year has been slated for 5-7 March 2024 and it is coming at an opportune period to enable us celebrate one of the icons of the Nigerian Civil Service, Izoma Philip Asiodu, founding Chairman of CORFEPS and Chairman of the Council’s Board of Trustees, who is 90 years old today, 26 February 2024.
“This year’s CORFEPS WEEK is in three parts, spread over three days as follows:
Tuesday 5 March, 2024: The Colloquium, at the State House Conference Hall, which is open to the public, by invitation.
Wednesday 6 March 2924: Annual General Meeting, at the Atiku Hall, Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, for members only.
“Thursday 7 March 2024: Investiture of the Grand Patron, President C-in-C.
The Colloquium, to which the President has been invited as Special Guest of Honour, will be chaired by His Royal Highness Olu Falae, The Olu of Ilu Abo, Akure land, retired Federal Permanent Secretary, and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation and former Minister of Finance. “
He said the colloquium with the theme; “Reflections on Nigeria’s Public Service: Way Forward for Good Governance” will feature lead speakers as Dr. Bukar Usman, a highly distinguished retired perm sec in the presidency, who is to give the general overview while
Dr. Timiebi Koripamo Agary, retired Perm Sec with a highly distinguished tour of duty as Perm Sec Federal Ministry of Labour, will present the Insider’s Perspective.
Also, Mr. Martins Oloja, Managing Director/Editor-In-Chief of The Guardian, a journalist on public policy, will present the outsider’s perspective
According to Dr Adegoroye, there will be three discussants made up of Amb (Dr.) Godknows B. Igali,
Amunna Lawan Ali, and himself who are all retired Perm Secretaries.
“Asiodu and Falae are treasures of the glorious era of the Nigerian Public Service.
“No one is better placed to remind us of how it was in those days, and what made the political masters respect the permanent secretaries than HRH Olu Falae.
“There are many questions begging for answers.
How did they do it in those days that there was mutual respect between Ministers and Permanent Secretaries and between Civil Servants and the public?
Where did it all go wrong?
What is the way forward for the civil service, in our quest for good governance?”
