From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
Outgoing Head of Service of the Federation, Folasade Yemi-Esan has commended President Bola Tinubu, for making the seamless transition to the incoming Head of Service, Esther Walson-Jack, seemless.
“Mr. President has made the handing over very seamless, and we appreciate it,” she stated, expressing confidence in Walson-Jack’s readiness to lead.
She said: “The incoming Head of Srevice has had some weeks with me learning the ropes and I am sure by now she is ready to go and we thank Mr President for this. And also we had a good time with Mr President chatting with Mr President sharing his vision for the country and especially for the civil service with the incoming Head of Service and that should prepare her and that should make her hit the ground running so that she can achieve all that Mr President has discussed with us”, she said.
Yemi-Esan highlighted Walson-Jack’s intelligence and professionalism, asserting, “I have no doubt she will do the job very well.” She reiterated the civil service’s critical role in fulfilling the President’s promises, advising Walson-Jack to ensure the service remains effective.
Walson-Jack, in her remarks, expressed gratitude for the appointment, viewing it as a “divine assignment” and committed to serving all civil servants to deliver on the renewed hope agenda In a related development, at a townhall meeting to celebrate her tenure on Friday in Abuja, Yemi-Esan urged civil servants to maintain and elevate their performance standards.
In a statement issued by Director of Communications, Mohammed Ahmed, she stressed the need for them to keep holding their heads high in their service to the country and ensure they take the already attained standards to the next higher level.
“Gone are the days when civil servants were to be seen and not heard,” she stated, encouraging staff to share positive developments within the service.
Yemi-Esan expressed gratitude to past and present Nigerian presidents for their support and highlighted the significance of the Federal Civil Service Strategies and Implementation Plan 2021-2025 (FCSSIP25) in enhancing governance. She presented six official vehicles to directors and two buses to the Joint Union Negotiating Council (JUNC) for staff transportation.
JUNC President, Sylvester Ameh, praised Yemi-Esan for her commitment to improving civil servant welfare and urged the incoming HoSF to continue this momentum.
Walson-Jack, her successor, emphasised Yemi-Esan’s selflessness and dedication to transformation, noting her “digital” approach to leadership. She used the acronym of the core values of the Service, AMPLE.; Accountable, a strong advocate of Meritocracy, a Professional, Loyal servant and Efficient to described the outgoing Head of Service.
Earlier in his Opening Speech, the Permanent Secretary, Common Services Office, Raymond Omachi, reiterated that the Townhall meeting was a special one meant not to interrogate but to celebrate the HoSF.
He added that the meeting was a demonstration of the sacrifices made for the Service by the HoSF.