Abuja: The Federal Ministry of Finance (FMF) on Thursday honoured 79 retired staff members for their decades of dedicated service to Nigeria’s fiscal and economic development. The retirees were celebrated at a reception organised by the ministry in Abuja for the 2025 and 2026 classes of retirees. The event also featured the 2025 Ministerial Rewards and Recognition ceremony, where six people received special awards for their outstanding contributions. The theme of the event was ‘Celebrating Service, Recognising Excellence, Inspiring the Future’.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Taiwo Oyedele, commended the retirees for their years of dedicated service to the country. Oyedele described the occasion as a transition of distinguished colleagues from active public service into a new and equally important chapter of their lives. He expressed gratitude to the retirees for their contributions to Nigeria’s fiscal and economic management over the years. The minister said public institutions were built through decades of dedicated service by career officers who remained committed to their responsibilities.
He further explained that effective public financial management could not be built within a single budget cycle. Oyedele said the retirees played crucial roles in reconciling government accounts and safeguarding treasury operations. He added that they also contributed to maintaining the financial discipline required to support national development. The minister noted that the retirees served the country through various economic cycles and periods of significant fiscal challenges. He said their institutional memory remained an important foundation for the continued development of the ministry.
Oyedele stated that many of the reforms being implemented by the present administration were built on institutional discipline established over the years by dedicated career officers. He listed some of the reforms as the removal of fuel subsidy, unification of statutory exchange rates and mobilisation of non-oil revenue. The minister stressed that national prosperity was not accidental but resulted from sustained efforts by public servants, many of whom worked without seeking public recognition.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Mr Raymond Omachi, described the ceremony as a moment of celebration, gratitude and institutional pride. Omachi commended Oyedele’s leadership and commitment, saying his presence demonstrated respect for civil servants and his cordial relationship with ministry staff. He said the ministry was delighted to honour officers who had dedicated decades of their lives to strengthening the institution. The permanent secretary commended the retirees for their sacrifices, describing their years of service as a legacy of institutional wisdom and selfless commitment.
One of the retired directors, Mrs Christiana Ndidi, described her recognition after 29 years in the civil service as a testament to the value of selfless service to the nation. Ndidi expressed happiness over the honour, saying she had received several recognitions during her career and was grateful that her contributions continued to be acknowledged. Similarly, Mrs Lola Uket, a retired Director of Economic Research and Policy Management, said she served the country for 35 years. Uket said her experience in the civil service taught her the importance of organisation, focus, patriotism and commitment to national development.