By Angela Atabo
Dr Clarice Ujah of the Federal Ministry of Education has won the Presidential Distinguished Civil Service Career Award, receiving a car gift at the 2026 Rewards and Recognition Awards.
The Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation held the ceremony in Abuja, where other awardees received cash gifts.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports the Federal Ministry of Education won the highest number of awards, including the Presidential Civil Service Merit Award and the Head of Service EPIC Award.
The Federal Ministries of Youth Development won the Best Civil Service Excellence Award, while Trade and Investment received the Diversity, Equal and Inclusive Leadership Award.
The Federal Ministries of Agriculture and Food Security and Power jointly won the Sports Achievement Award, while Regional Development shared the Head of Service EPIC Award with Education.
The Head of Service, Didi Walson-Jack said the awards were designed to institutionalise a culture where excellence and outstanding performance were deliberately identified and rewarded.
She said exceptional officers deserved recognition because their contributions often remained behind successful policies, projects, improved processes and better services delivered to citizens.
“I congratulate you all. This recognition is both an honour and a responsibility.
Continue to lead by example, mentor younger officers, and sustain the standards.
“Please remember, however, that after today’s applause, photographs, and celebrations, we still expect to see you at work,” she said.
She urged unsuccessful nominees not to be discouraged.
“Continue to improve, innovate, and contribute meaningfully to your ministries and offices.
“Your dedication is valued, and your reward will surely come,” she said.
The Head of Service explained that the Rewards and Recognition System comprises monthly departmental, annual ministerial and service-wide rewards and recognition components.
She expressed concern that 2026 recorded the lowest number of recipients, blaming some ministries’ failure to follow procedures or submit nominations.
“Excellent civil servants cannot be recognised if their ministries do not nominate them.
“The selection committee could not produce nominees from ministries that failed to submit names,” she said.
Walson-Jack urged permanent secretaries to implement the system fully and ensure deserving officers were not excluded, while commending the selection committee and programme supporters.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume said the Civil Service remained government’s backbone, translating policies and national priorities into programmes and projects affecting citizens.
Represented by Sani Aminu, Akume said the Tinubu administration had institutionalised rewards and recognition, alongside welfare and performance measures approved by the Federal Executive Council.
He said performance should be assessed through evidence, results and merit, with transparency essential for credible recognition urging awardees to remain models of competence and professionalism.
The Federal Civil Service Commission Chairman, Tunji Olaopa said rewards and sanctions were vital for improving performance.
He advocated merit-based recruitment, career progression, ethics, professionalisation and stronger manpower planning.
Olaopa also called for restructuring and resizing the bureaucracy, improved remuneration, digital infrastructure and artificial intelligence for budgeting, asset management and inventory tracking.
Responding for the awardees, Ujah described the recognition as strong motivation for committed civil servants.
He thanked officials and stakeholders and promised that recipients would be encouraged to do more.(NAN)
Edited by Rotimi Ijikanmi