The Council of Retired Federal Permanent Secretaries and Heads of Civil Service of the Federation (CORFEPS) has pledged its commitment to rebuild and reposition the nation’s civil service with their wealth of knowledge even after retirement.
The body made the pledge on Tuesday in Abuja, at a colloquium held as one of the activities to mark the 2024 CORFEPS Week.
The theme of the colloquium is, ‘Reflections on Nigeria’s Public Service: Way Forward for Good Governance.’
Malam Yayale Ahmed, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Chairman of CORFEPS said that the body comprised of retired technocrats in all fields of public service and economy.
According to him, CORFEPS has a deep sense of patriotism, reservoir of knowledge and experiences with determination to further contribute to nation-building.
“In line with our motto, Continuing Patriotic Service, the provision of the forum is to engage in a meaningful discuss on important and relevant issues of national development, including matters pertaining to public service.
“This is one of the aims and objectives of the forum and the council is also committed to draw public attention to matters and maintenance of desirable national living standards and values.
“This is in line with our constitution to carry out periodic assessments of the overall performance of the nation and give constructive advice on the public policy issues in service, ” he said.
According to him, the smooth running or efficiency of the civil service should not be compromised as there is no substitute for the civil service.
“And for this reason, we will not relent in our advocacy on policies to make public service to deliver the good services to contribute to national development,” he added.
Also speaking, His Majesty, Oba Dr Samuel Falae (the Olu of Ilu-Abo of Akure Kingdom, said rendering services was not only limited to being in active service, adding that there was always time to do so even after retirement.
“Service is the greatest thing anyone can offer, I am a good Cristian and I believe that service to others is the best, ” he said.
Falae, who is also one of the chairmen of the occasion, however, called on both the forum and the Federal government to look into the welfare of CORFEPS and the generality of the retired civil servants.
“Although not only health is the challenge of the retired people but also the pension. We will be glad if CORFEPS can do something about the welfare of the federal permanent secretaries in terms of medical care and others when it was necessary. “
In his remarks, former Interior Minister, Amb. Babagana Kingibe, cautioned retirees to desist from the mentality of exhausting from performing duties to the nation at the end of their active service.
He noted that retired public servants still had greater roles and responsibilities to play toward nation-building
Kingibe also urged civil servants to shun corruption while in service, saying that there was a general belief that it was the civil servants who lured and showed the political appointees ways into corruption.
(NAN)
