By Tom Zaneni, Abuja
The outgoing Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF), Folasade Yemi-Esan, has admonished her successor, Didi Walson-Jack, to run an open-door policy and carry civil servants along in the scheme of things.
She gave the admonition at a town hall meeting organised by the Joint Union Negotiating Council in the OHCSF in Abuja on Thursday.
Yemi-Esan also advised Walson-Jack to open communication channels with the civil servants to enhance a harmonious working environment and relationship.
“You can’t go wrong in being open to the civil servants”, she said.
Yemi-Esan will retire from the federal civil on August 13, 2024.
On July 17, 2024 President Bola Tinubu appointed Walson-Jack as the new Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, with effect from August 14.
She said her appointment as Head of Service was an act of God as she did not dream of attaining that height in the civil service.
Yemi-Esan said, “It is with pride that I stand here today to first of all, thank God who gave me the opportunity to serve my dear nation.
“In my years as a civil servant, I have never dreamt, never planned of becoming the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation but in His own mercy, God deemed fit to appoint me.
“It was God alone that did it, and I give Him all thanks for the opportunity.”
She noted that the significant achievements recorded in the implementation of the Federal Service Strategy and Implementation Plan(FSSIP 2021–2025) during her tenure was due to the cooperation and support of permanent secretaries and civil servants.
She, however, stressed the need to improve the conditions of service for workers, saying that “It is impossible to improve the service without improving the welfare of civil servants.”
Yemi-Esan recalled that before assuming office the morale of the civil servants was at the lowest ebb but it improved greatly because of the reforms that were introduced.
In her remarks, the incoming Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack showered praises on Yemi-Esan.
She noted that the outgoing Head of the Civil Service of the Federation was an exemplary in the core values in the civil service such as accountability, meritocracy, professionalism, loyalty and efficiency.
Also speaking , the President of Joint Union Negotiating Council in the OHCSF, Sylvester Abah, applauded the Head of the Civil Service for promoting the atmosphere of peace in the civil service.
He noted that Yemi-Esan improved the welfare of the civil servants, and also introducing agricultural entrepreneurship programme, peculiar allowance, wellness centre for enhanced living standard of workers.
