The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF) met monthly with Permanent Secretaries, the Federation’s Accountant-General, and the Federation’s Auditor-General in Abuja on Wednesday, February 19, 2025. A special farewell ceremony was held during the session to honor Mr. Adeoye Adeleye Ayodeji, the former Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Transportation, and Dr. Oluwatoyin Sakirat Madein, the Federation’s first female Accountant-General, who retired and will do so on February 8, 2025, and March 7, 2025, respectively.

Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, OON, mni, the Head of the Federation’s Civil Service, praised both retiring officers’ careers as outstanding and influential in her remarks. She called Mr. Adeoye Adeleye Ayodeji a model of public service and a visionary leader.

“Today we are here to honor a remarkable career and service legacy of a man whose commitment has left a lasting impression on our country and the civil service,” Mrs. Walson-Jack stated. She praised Mr. Adeoye for his decades of outstanding leadership, moral character, and dedication, pointing out that he personified the ideal of public service, which is based on excellence and discipline.

His ability to precisely manage intricate national projects, streamline procedures, institutionalize best practices, and maintain transparency as a systemic feature was highlighted by the HCSF.

Likewise, Mrs. Walson-Jack praised Dr. Oluwatoyin Sakirat Madein, calling her a pioneer and a symbol of public service. She pointed out that Dr. Madein broke down barriers, promoted financial reforms, and established new benchmarks for excellence as the Federation’s first female accountant general.

We honor a trailblazer, an icon, and a devoted public servant today. She redefined excellence in public service as the first female Accountant-General of the Federation in Nigeria. She changed the country’s financial management scene with her innovative, honest, and visionary leadership,” Mrs. Walson-Jack said.

She also underlined that the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation accomplished important milestones under Dr. Madein’s direction, such as improving fiscal responsibility, bolstering revenue generation, and digitizing financial operations. Additionally, Dr. Madein received recognition for her dedication to capacity building, which made sure that Treasury officers across the country received training and development.

In closing, Mrs. Walson-Jack expressed gratitude to the retirees for their service, saying, “Your professional and diligent work will serve as an inspiration to future generations.” We honor you, thank you, and wish you the best of luck as you embark on this new phase of your lives.

Other Permanent Secretaries’ goodwill messages highlighted Mr. Adeoye and Dr. Madein’s perseverance, discipline, and dedication to nation-building. They gave the retiring officers high marks for their dedication, leadership focused on outcomes, and constructive influence on the civil service.

The retirees thanked God in their answers for giving them the chance to serve the country in a merit-based manner. In addition to expressing gratitude to the HCSF for her outstanding leadership and commitment, they urged their colleagues to stay dedicated to service and finish strong.