Retired Federal Permanent Secretaries Set To Honour Foundation Chairman of the Council, Phillip Asiodu
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Chief Phillip Asiodu |
"Pursuant to its aims and objectives, CORFEPS under its current Chairman has decided to institute the CORFEPS WEEK as a yearly event preferably in the first quarter of each year, commencing this year where, in addition to the Annual General Meeting (AGM) as stipulated in its Articles of Association, members will focus on an issue of national importance which will be exhaustively discussed with a view to providing recommendations on the way forward." Dr. Goke Adegoroye, National Publicity Secretary.
A body known as the Council of Retired Federal Permanent Secretaries, CORFEPS registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) with membership comprising of top Civil Servants who retired after attaining the grade of Permanent Secretary and higher, has unveiled its plan to honour one of its own.
This was disclosed by Dr. Goke Adegoroye, National Publicity Secretary of the group during a press conference on Monday in Abuja.
Giving a background about the group, the National Publicity Secretary disclosed that "The Council of Retired Federal Permanent Secretaries (CORFEPS), is a body duly registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission, with membership comprising of top Civil Servants who retired after attaining the grade of Permanent Secretary and higher. Our Motto is: “Continuing Patriotic Service”.
"Chief Philip Asiodu, CON who currently sits as Chairman of the Board of Trustees was the Foundation Chairman of the Council. He was succeeded by the late Mrs Francesca Yetunde Emmanuel, CON the first female Federal Permanent Secretary as the immediate past Chairman. The current Chairman is Mahmud Yayale Ahmed, CFR, a former Federal Permanent Secretary and retired Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, who upon retirement from the Civil Service was appointed Minister of Defence and later Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
Adegoroye revealed the Aims and Objectives of the group as:
Article 2 of the CORFEPS’ Constitution stipulates the Council’s Aims and Objectives as:
* 2.01 Provision of Forum for engaging in meaningful discourse on important and relevant issues of national development including matters pertaining to the Public Service;
* 2.02 Drawing public attention to matters of desirable national living standard and standard of values, morality, performance and conduct;
2.03 Carrying out periodic objective assessment of the overall performance of the nation and giving constructive advice on key Public Policy issues;
* 2.04 Assisting to restore and maintain the proper role of the Civil Service as a non- partisan organ to serve the government and the nation; and
* 2.05 Enhancing continuous interaction among retired Federal Permanent Secretaries and promoting the welfare of members as a means of inspiration for serving public servants”.
He stated that CORFEPS, being composed of tested technocrats with expertise in all sectors of the Nigerian Public Service, is a rich Reservoir of Knowledge and experience on the intricate workings of government.
According to him, "Pursuant to its aims and objectives, CORFEPS under its current Chairman has decided to institute the CORFEPS WEEK as a yearly event preferably in the first quarter of each year, commencing this year where, in addition to the Annual General Meeting (AGM) as stipulated in its Articles of Association, members will focus on an issue of national importance which will be exhaustively discussed with a view to providing recommendations on the way forward.
Dr Adegoroye disclosed that, “The CORFEPS WEEK this year has been slated between the 5th and 7th of March 2024.
He revealed that, "It is coming at an opportune period to enable us celebrate one of the icons of the Nigerian Civil Service, Izoma Philip Asiodu, Founding Chairman of CORFEPS and Chairman of the Council’s Board of Trustees, who is 90years old today, 26 February 2024.”
The National Publicity Secretary told journalists that “The National Chairman Mahmud Yayale Ahmed, CFR and the First National Vice Chairman Engr. Ebele Okeke, CFR are at this time with Chief Philip Asiodu who is marking his birthday with due modesty and class, both in tune with his own life style and ethics as a quintessential Civil Servant as an example to the nation, in a Luncheon at the Metropolitan Club in Lagos.”
Dr Adegoroye disclosed that “This year’s CORFEPS WEEK is in three parts, spread over three days as follows:
Tuesday 5 March, 2024:The Colloquium, at the State House Conference Hall, which is open to the public, by invitation.
Wednesday 6 March 2024: Annual General Meeting, at the Atiku Hall, Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, for members only;
Thursday 7 March 2024: Investiture of the Grand Patron, President C-in-C (Tentatively)”.
Adegoroye revealed further that, “The Colloquium, to which the President has been invited as Special Guest of Honour, will be chaired by His Royal Highness Olu Falae, The Olu of Ilu Abo, Akure land, retired Federal Permanent Secretary, and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation and former Minister of Finance.
He disclosed that, “The Theme of the Colloquium is REFLECTIONS ON NIGERIA’S PUBLIC SERVICE: WAY FORWARD FOR GOOD GOVERNANCE, while the Lead Speakers are: Dr. Bukar Usman, OON a highly distinguished retired Perm Sec in the Presidency, who is to give the general overview.
Dr. Timiebi Koripamo Agary, OON retired Perm Sec with a highly distinguished tour of duty as Perm Sec Federal Ministry of Labour, who will present the Insider’s Perspective and Mr. Martins Oloja, MD/Editor-In-Chief of The Guardian, Nigeria’s foremost Journalist on Public Policy, who will present the Outsider’s Perspective, while there will be three Discussants, all retired Perm Secs, namely:
* Amb (Dr.) Godknows B. Igali, OON
* Amunna Lawan Ali, OON and
* Dr. Goke Adegoroye, OON.
Dr Adegoroye proudly started that "Asiodu and Falae Are Treasures of the Glorious Era of the Nigerian Public Service.
"Izoma Philip Asiodu, not only belonged to what is now referred to as the Golden/Glorious era of the Nigerian Civil Service, he stands out as one of those whose courage and ability to speak truth to power made the post-independence Civil Service an institution that commanded the respect of not just their political masters but the populace as well.
"We, at CORFEPS, are grateful to God that he is still around as many of his colleagues have passed on to the great beyond. No one is better placed to remind us of how it was in those days, and what made the political masters respect the Permanent Secretaries than HRH Olu Falae whose career straddled the Parliamentary era, the first Military intervention of 1966-1979 to the Second Republic under Presidential administration where he retired in 1981 and to return under the Military regime of Ibrahim Babangida, first as SGF in 1986 and later, Minister of Finance in 1990.
"There Are Many Questions Begging for Answers, So Be There!
"How did they do it in those days that there was mutual respect between Ministers and Permanent Secretaries and between Civil Servants and the public?
"Where did it all go wrong?
"What is the Way Forward for the Civil Service, in our Quest for Good Governance?
"Just attend the Colloquium and you will be able to drink from the Fountain of Knowledge of those at the center of it all and draw wisdom therefrom!
"The CORFEPS Colloquium 2024 is where it will all play out. Whoever is interested in getting the Nigerian Public Service back to the Tracks of Serving as the Engine of Good Governance cannot afford to miss CORFEPS Colloquium 2024." The National Publicity Secretary stated.
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