Abuja – The former Permanent Secretary of the State House, Mr Nebolisa Emordi, on Wednesday returned the two official cars and Villa identity card in his possession as he bowed out of office.
He handed over the property to the Director of Information, Communication and Technology (ICT), in a brief ceremony held in his former office.
Emordi, who had put in about 31 years in the civil service, was among the permanent secretaries retired by President Muhammadu Buhari on the eve of the inauguration of his 36 new ministers.
In an emotion-laden speech, Emordi thanked Buhari for the “honour and rare privilege of working as the permanent secretary of the state house’’ that he gave him since he assumed office on May 29.
He said he believed very much in the public service and that Buhari had reflected all the positive images expected of the service.
“I will continue to fervently pray for the success of President Muhammadu Buhari in his efforts to correct the various ills that are facing the nation’’, he said.[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”70560″]
He said the return of the public property entrusted to him in the course of his assignment was in line with the accountability and transparency posture of the President.
Emordi thanked the President for the humane and fatherly manner he conveyed the decision of the Federal Government to the 16 retired permanent secretaries.
According to him, “he could have ordered an announcement and you could have just heard, it but he invited us to a meeting and explained why government had to take some tough decisions and why we were affected.’’
The former perm sec said that nobody knew exactly how his journey might end and same was applicable to the civil service.
He said the private sector was prone to instant termination and the public sector also not insulated from such “sudden deaths.’’
Emordi described nation building as a relay where everyone comes to play a part and allows the next person to improve the service to the Nigerian people.
“It is a musical chair and any person that finds himself in such an assignment strives to give his best at all times as required of the scheme and the Constitution.’’
While he apologised to the workers who might have felt aggrieved in the course of his service, he also prayed for God’s guidance for those affected in the pursuit of future goals.
“I have enjoyed working in the State House with all the issues, handling human beings, some pleasant experiences and some not very pleasant experiences.
“But that is life and we took it in our stride and tried to do our best; so, I want to plead with you to extend the same level of corporation that you have accorded me to the in-coming permanent secretary.’’
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the new Acting Permanent Secretary, Jalal Arabi, had assumed duties. (NAN)