The Permanent Secretary of the State House, Temitope Fashedemi, has assured retiring staff of the Presidency that their years of service will continue to be recognised through annual honours. He said their contributions “still count” and will no longer end in silence.
Speaking at a reception for retirees at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja, Fashedemi said the State House would institutionalise an annual reward system to formally celebrate staff at the end of their careers. He stressed that welfare, recognition and rewards are now priorities in public service management.
In a statement signed by the State House Director of Information and Publicity, Abiodun Oladunjoye, Fashedemi urged retirees to remain part of the State House community, noting that their institutional memory and mentorship would remain valuable.
He criticised the old culture where public servants exited without acknowledgement, describing it as a flaw. According to him, celebrating service is now codified in the public service to ensure dignity and gratitude at retirement.
Fashedemi explained that the maiden edition was designed to accommodate as many retirees as possible, including those who left months earlier, and assured that future editions would be held regularly. He added that each honouree would receive a tangible gift.
He said the event aligns with the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan 25, which prioritises staff welfare through safe workspaces, proper tools and structured recognition.
Speaking on behalf of the retirees, Dr Acho Terungwa appealed to Fashedemi to personally assess conditions at the State House clinic and improve facilities for staff, noting that workers do not enjoy special privileges despite public perception.
Also speaking, a representative of the Chairman, Medical Advisory Council, State House Medical Centre, Dr Ngozi Mmamelu, said the facility had moved past its challenges and is now working as a unified team to restore its reputation, with retirees across various cadres receiving parting gifts.
