As HoS honours ex-permanent secretaries

The Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Winifred Oyo-Ita, has honoured five retired permanent secretaries for their services to the country and its peoples.
The retired Permanent Secretaries are Mrs Fatima Binta Bamidele, Mr. Abubakar Gusau Magaji, Mr Bolaji Adebiyi, Mr Osarenom Uwaifo and Mr Osuji Ndubuisi Marcellinus.
Speaking at a cocktail party in honour of the five permanent secretaries who retired between January and June 2018, she enjoined all retired permanent secretaries to contribute to the development of the nation and they should not see their retirement as an impediment.
She said the retirees were honoured by the federal government in recognition of their meritorious service to the nation.
She said the honour done the permanent secretaries is part of “a welfare policy that seeks to bring bonding to the body of permanent secretaries and to help create an atmosphere of fellowship.” But, essentially, the gesture will enable them to know each other beyond official capacity and discuss how to move the country forward and promote peace that is needed most in the country now.
It is in this light, therefore, that the call made by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Boss Gida Mustapha, during the occasion must be appreciated.
Mustapha called on the retirees not to relent in their efforts to promote peace and unity in the country.
And, what more would the permanent secretaries could have better been told? For too long, but certainly for no good reasons, Nigeria has been subjected to unprecedented level of violence, championed, discreetly though, by members of the elite class to which the ex-permanent secretaries belong.
Yet, it is a known fact that there cannot be development in an environment devoid of peace and security.
It is also a fact that until we are able to entrench a culture of peace and non-violence in the body polity, all efforts geared towards development would come to nought.
It is in the light of the above that the Head of Service must be commended for initiating a process of recognising contributions of the former top government officials and engaging them to continue to contribute to nationbuilding.