Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Ambassador Babagana Kingibe, said the major destabilising factors in public service were role of the political class and rising cost of governance.
He made this known at the Mohammed Lawal Uwais Public Service Award organised by the Nigerian Institute for Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS) in collaboration with the Nigerian Television Authority in Abuja on Wednesday.
Kingibe, who was the guest lecturer at the award ceremony, said that although the enthronement of democratic culture and good governance were in progress, a lot still needed to be done.
“Elected officials and political appointees come into office with unlimited number of aides and assistants who enjoy greater access to political heads and heads of departments because they are considered more reliable than civil servants.
“It must be noted that the public service provides vital interface between government and the citizenry.
“It is also important to note that the middle class, which most public servants belong to, provide stability in the society,’’ he said.
He, therefore, called for a properly constituted and well trained public service that would ensure nation building.
A former Head of State, Ernest Shonekan, who was also at the ceremony, urged public servants to be outstanding, saying it was honourable to contribute to the development of one’s country.
Shonekan commended the recipients, adding that it was in recognition of their commitment to duty.
He urged public servants not to shy away from their responsibilities toward moving the country to an enviable position.
The former head of interim government said most developed countries attained such status because of the contributions of their citizens.
“It is a good thing to be honoured and this type of award propels recipients to work for more awards and selfless service.
“We should all work for the rapid transformation of the nation and we must know that the western world got to where they are today because of the contributions of their citizens,’’ Shonekan said.
On his part, the NIALS Director-General, Prof. Epiphany Azinge, said a motivated, inspired and well rewarded public service was necessary for the transformation of the nation.
Azinge said the annual award was established by the institute as instrument for repositioning the public service to greater heights.
He added that any nation in need of rapid transformation and political growth ought to encourage outstanding performance.
“The public service is the engine of growth for transformation and a catalyst for building a strong, virile and purposeful administrative base that will transform the political, economic, social and philosophical regeneration of a country.
“It is our hope that this award will grow to achieve the ideals for which it was conceptualised,” Azinge said.
Highpoint of the event was the presentation of awards to three nominees and presentation of eight publications by NIALS.
The winner of the award, Sergeant Selbol Audu, a traffic warden attached to the Garki Police Divisional Headquarters, Abuja, got N1 million and a plaque for his outstanding performance.
Other awardees were an Acting Director in the Office of the Head of Service, Mr Tajudeen Adebayo and Mr Samuel Ladipo, the Chief Planning Officer, Kwara Ministry of Planning and Economic Development.
They both received a plaque each for their contributions to nation building.
NIALS introduced the Mohammed Lawal Uwais Award in 2012 to honour the former Chief Justice of Nigeria.
It was also aimed at encouraging Nigerians with outstanding performance.
