By Our Correspondent in Abuja
The Minister of Interior, Mr AbdulRauf Aregbeshola, has urged public servants to emulate the virtues of the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mrs Georgina Ehuria, in the discharge of their responsibilities to the nation.
Aregbeshola gave the advice while delivering a speech at a book launch, entitled “On Merit”, at the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abuja.
He noted that Ehuriah had served the country meritoriously for 35 years, the best and the most productive period of her life.
“She then decided very rightly to chronicle her experience in the printed pages, the public presentation of which we are gathered here to witness.
“Oscar Auliq-Ice after all tells us: “Anyone who has lived a full life has something fascinating to share with the world.
“I met her in an interesting manner on Aug. 21 in 2019. That was the day I was sworn in as a minister.
“A lady walked up to me and said, you are my minister. I said what, she said you are the Minister of Interior and I am the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Interior.
“We then drove to the ministry. She met me with her charm and grace and we hit it off from that moment,” he said.
The minister,who recalled that he had the privilege of 16 years of public service before his appointment as minister, and that in the course of his service as commissioner in Lagos, said it was compulsory that he interacted with civil servants.
“Even when I was the governor of Osun state, I inteerracted with so many cicil Civil servants.
“Civil service is the heart or operating engine of government. The success or otherwise of any political leader depends largely on how he or she operates this machine, he added.”
The minister said that he was fascinated with the methodical and organised way civil servants used to do things; sticking to rules and minding their language, among others.
“Ehuriah, however, is in a class of her own. She is the quintessential civil servant, loyal, diligent, firm, efficient, effective, knowledgeable and hhard working.
“She has proven to be an excellent civil servant. Her capacity for work and diligence are extra-ordinary. Having worked across several Federal establishments, she capped her career with the appointment as Permanent Secretary.
“Because she distinguished herself, she was at the Presidency, the pinnacle of government, where nothing but the best is good enough. I therefore, consider it a privilege to have worked with her.
“One of the best the service ever produced.She is also a good person. A humanbeing to the core. She is courteous, reserved, graceful and dignified.”
Her book therefore, is 35 years compressed into a few pages. No wonder Ralph Emerson wrote that ‘There is properly no history, only biography.’
“If you avail yourself of reading the biographies of the great people of history, you already have history in your hands.
“Her book is, therefore, a treasure trove of the
experience and wisdom of her meritorious service. It should be a compulsory read for students and teachers of public administration and civil servants.
“Beyond that, as I have always advocated, someone with her experience should have a place as a faculty in any top university and civil service training academy, teaching public administration.
“And shaping the intellect of those who will mind public service at all levels in the country.
Once again.”
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, (SGF), Dr Boss Mustapha, in his remarks,said the nation’s public service should not be a dumping ground for all comers as it was expected to be the engine room that drives its growth/development.
“In Singapore, for example civil servants are subjected to examinations at the point of entry, besides other requirements aside work experience.
“Public servants and public institutions are reflections of what the country becomes,” he said
He described the book as eloquent testimony of a hard working public servant, adding that Ehuria was the brain behind the codification/documentation of the policies, programmes and projects of the present administration.
The author of the book, Ehuria, however, thanked everybody that graced the ocassion, especially her minister, the SGF and others.
“I thank you all for honouring me. I pray that the almighty God honours you all.
“I will continue to be greatful and continue to contribute my quota to the development of the country, especially the public service,” she said.
