Drop personal ambitions, focus on the task ahead – HoS tells new perm secs

The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr Folasade Yemi-Esan, has advised newly appointed permanent secretaries to drop their ambitions and work towards aligning with the priorities of the present administration’s “Renewed Hope Agenda.”

She said that as good administrators, personal decisions must respect public feelings.

According to a statement released by her office on Friday, Yemi-Esan spoke while declaring open a two-day retreat organised for newly appointed permanent secretaries.

The statement quoted her as directing them to take ownership of all the reform programmes initiated by the OHCSF, as well as drive the Renewed Hope Agenda.

She insisted that it was important to work well to elevate the service, and also show the political class that the service could achieve results.

“This will distinguish you from being transactional Permanent Secretaries to transformational. You must do whatever it takes to remove all obstacles,” she was quoted as saying.

President Bola Tinubu recently approved the appointment of eight new permanent secretaries in the Federal Civil Service.

The appointment followed “the recently concluded selection process by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation,” a statement signed by President Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, read