BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja
Retired Permanent Secretary of Ecological Project Office (EPO), Dr Habiba Lawal (3rd Right); Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Dr Folashade Yemi-Esan (Right); former Head of Service of the Federation, Alhaji Yayale Ahmed (Left) ; Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Boss Mustapha (2nd Left) and others at the Celebration of Retirment and Launch of a book written by Dr Lawal in Abuja yesterday.
Permanent Secretary of Ecological Project Office (EPO), Dr Habiba Lawal has bowed out of the Civil Service, having performed excellently in different cadres for 35 years.
This is even as technocrats hailed her sterling leadership, which resulted to the successes recorded by the federal government in addressing flood and erosion crisis across the country.
Lawal's exit from the service was heralded with a Retirment Ceremony and Public Presentation of her book titled, "Account of my Stewardship in the Management of Ecological Emergencies in Nigeria".
The event attracted serving and retired permanent secretaries, state and federal legislators, members of the academia, past and present Heads of the Civil Service of the Federation, top civil servants, family and friends of the celebrant.
Speaking at the ceremony in Abuja yesterday, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Boss Mustapha congratulated Dr Lawal for a resounding public service career, describing her as an intellectual, administrator, educationist, scientist, mother, family matriarch and motivator.
According to him, “She comes with a lot of firsts in the class of achievers. At the peak of her career, she was appointed a Permanent Secretary in 2013, thus becoming one of the longest serving in that class, today."
He added, “It is also on record that she served as the Acting SGF for at least six months before my appointment in 2017. By way of speaking, therefore, it will be right to call her my predecessor."
Mustapha, who was the chairman of the occasion said that the celebrant excelled in the discharge of her duties while serving as the Acting SGF, which facilitated his easy and smooth take off as the SGF.
He stated that the celebrant served as the permanent secretary of EPO with transparency, dedication and commitment that distinguished her as an exemplary public officer.
Mustapha said that Dr Lawal's leadership qualities in EPO was documented in the two volumes of publications issued from her office, describing it as another first in the history of EPO.
While congratulating members of her family, he said the event provided an opportunity for public officials to reflect on how to add value in the civil service especially towards their retirement.
On his part, the Minister of Information & Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed rated the retired permanent secretary as an integrity hero, knowledgeable, hardworking and quite observer.
While stating that the celebrant is conversant with the strength and weaknesses of some members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC), he wished her the best of luck in her retirement.
Also speaking, the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Dr Folashade Yemi-Esan lauded Dr Lawal for providing valuable advice during her assumption of duty as the HoSF.
She said the celebrant not only impacted in her life and career but left indelible mark in the civil service.
Yemi-Esan commended the permanent secretary for mitigating erosion in civil service housing estate, just as she prayed that God would reward her hardwork in the service.
In her vote of thanks, the celebrant, Dr Lawal thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for finding her worthy to serve for six years in the EPO.
She felicitated with the media for their positive reports on the activities of EPO, just as she appreciated the legislators, other government officials, family and friends for their immense support during the service.
Lawal was hopeful that she left EPO better than she met it, in terms of projects that were executed and commissioned during her tenure.
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