Isa Umar, Abuja
The Chairman of the North Central Governors’ Forum and Governor of Nasarawa State, His Excellency, Engr. Abdullahi A. Sule, has been honored with the Nigeria Excellence Award in Public Service (NEAPS) for 2023 in the category of Rural Development.
Gov. Sule who was bestowed with the NEAPS award at the Aso Presidential Villa, Abuja, at the weekend, was recognized for his outstanding contributions to rural development in Nasarawa State, underscoring his commitment to transformative leadership and his dedication to improving the lives of the people of Nasarawa State.
Nigeria’s Vice President, Sen. Kashim Shettima (GCON), presented the award at the Banquet Hall, State House, Abuja. Sule is one of 42 distinguished awardees this year, having previously received the award for Agricultural Development in 2022.
Meanwhile, President Tinubu, in a prepared speech entitled, “Honouring the Heartbeats of Public Service,” and delivered by Vice President Kashim Shettima, who represented him at the event, regretted that some persons saddled with the nation’s trust were exploiting some loopholes despite the institutional measures put in place to prevent any form of irregularities in the public service, but congratulated the awardees for distinguishing themselves in service to the people.
“More than ever, our public service must live up to its expectation as a public trust where every official must account to the people, and ours is to create an ecosystem where they not only stand out but stand apart from those who sabotage us,” he said.
Tinubu restated his administration’s determination “to creating an environment where merit is rewarded, and where every public servant feels valued and motivated to give their best”.
Pacesetter reports that the NEAPS is an initiative of the private sector and the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, which is meant to inspire the majority of the nation’s workforce.