753 Lagos Govt Staff Bag Long Service Merit Award
Kunle Awosiyan
More than 700 members of staff of the Lagos State Civil Service have been honoured with long service merit awards.
The state Head of Service, Hakeem Muri-Okunola presented the awards plaques and certificates to the awardees on Tuesday at the Adeyemi Bero Hall, Alausa Secretariat, Ikeja on Tuesday.
Speaking, Muri-Okunola described the presentation as the celebration of accomplishments and contribution of 753 officers who have been nominated for recognition.
According to him, the laudable idea is a continuation of tradition of appreciating diligence and meritorious service of men and women that had worked and still working for the greatness of the state and the country as a whole.
In felicitating with the worthy recipient of the award, the Head of Service said that the government would not forget in a jiffy the contributions of the recipients to Lagos development.
As he put it, “I want to assure you all that your resilience, passion and knowledge shared throughout the years will remain honoured. let me urge you not to rest on your oars but rather to continue to exhibit the high sense of responsibility, unparalleled commitments to duty and unalloyed loyalty, which are the qualities and values for which you are being honoured today.”
To Muri-Okunola, the aim of organising the momentous occasion annually is to deliberately recognise and reward diligence, commitment and loyalty amongst public servant in Lagos State with the hope that the periodic exercise will motivate public servants to be more dedicated to the course of effective service delivery in the centre of excellence while encouraging awardees to continue in their efficiency and effectiveness.
Speaking to our correspondent, one of the awardees, Miss Bada Ronke Beatrice said that it was tedious, yet enjoyable to have passed through Lagos civil service.
Beatrice, a retired nurse with the state Health Service Commission served for 31 years.
She said, “I’m fulfilled, I’m happy that after my retirement the government called me back to received an award.”
However, he called on the government to think and quickly work out how it will pay her entitlements.