By ENITAN ABEL JOHNGOLD ORHERUATA
It was a day of celebration, reflection and emotion in Asaba as the Delta State Civil Service rolled out a colourful Guard of Honour and Pulling-Out Parade to mark the retirement of the immediate past Head of Service, Dr. (Mrs.) Mininim Oseji, after years of distinguished service to the state.
The ceremony, held at the premises of the Office of the Head of Service, brought together her successor, Dr. (Mrs.) Igho Charity Babigha-Ehimen , permanent secretaries, directors and a large number of civil servants who gathered to honour a woman whose tenure was widely described as one of commitment to public service reform, professionalism and workers’ welfare.
For those who came to bid her farewell, it was more than a retirement ceremony. It was an opportunity to celebrate a career defined by hard work, discipline, innovation, sacrifice and perseverance.
Civil servants who spoke during the ceremony described Oseji as a reform-minded administrator who contributed to the development of a more professional, efficient and effective public service in Delta State.
Her final message: “Put the public interest first”
Before the Pulling-Out Parade, Oseji addressed a cross-section of workers at the newly renovated Governor’s Office Library at the Old Secretariat, Summit Road, Asaba.
The choice of venue was symbolic.
Oseji explained that when she discovered the poor condition of the library, she felt it was necessary to transform it into a place that would reflect the intellectual character expected of a modern public service.
“When I discovered the dilapidated condition of the library, I said, ‘Let us have something that anybody that walks in will know that, yes, these people have come to read and discuss about reading,’” she recalled.
She expressed satisfaction that the project had been completed before her retirement.
“We are very happy that we were able to achieve it before I finally bow out. And so I’m ready to bow out,” she said.
The renovated library, she explained, was intended to become more than a reading room. Plans had been made to introduce e-library services to give civil servants access to research materials and other intellectual resources.
Oseji said she hoped the facility would encourage workers to pursue higher academic qualifications and help reinforce Delta State’s reputation as a state of intellectuals.
“I hope that many of you will become Master’s holders, PhD holders and everybody would know that Delta State is a state of intellectuals,” she said.
A farewell that became a charge to workers
Oseji used her final interaction with workers to deliver what sounded less like a farewell speech and more like a charge to the next generation of public servants.
She thanked civil servants across the state for their cooperation and for embracing several initiatives introduced during her tenure, noting that some workers supported the reforms even when the eventual outcomes were not immediately obvious.
She urged public servants to remain committed to the ideals of government and, above all, to put the public interest ahead of personal interests.
“Public interest should come first. Personal interest, yes, is there, but it should never override the public interest,” she admonished.
She also challenged workers to remember that they were civil servants, insisting that civility must be reflected in their conduct, language and relationship with members of the public.
“We do not want hoodlums. We do not want gangsters. We do not want miscreants. We do not want hooligans. We want civil servants and public servants who are civil in every way,” she said.
For Oseji, professionalism was not limited to getting the job done. It included courtesy, self-discipline, appropriate conduct and the ability to represent government with dignity.
“Be hardworking, innovative and ICT-compliant”
In an interview during the Pulling-Out ceremony, the outgoing Head of Service expanded on the qualities she believed should define the modern public servant.
She identified courtesy, discipline, transparency, efficiency and resilience as essential attributes.
She also urged civil servants to be hardworking, innovative, thorough, ICT-compliant and result-oriented, while maintaining a professional appearance.
According to her, public officers should constantly look for unique opportunities to promote their professions and demonstrate their expertise.
Her message was particularly significant at a time when public institutions are increasingly expected to embrace technology, improve efficiency and deliver services that meet the expectations of citizens.
Oseji credits Governor for support
The retiring Head of Service was also generous in acknowledging the role of the state governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, in supporting her administrative initiatives.
Oseji said her ability to push through reforms and secure approval for initiatives was largely enabled by the governor’s support.
She recalled that Heads of Service from other states had often expressed admiration for developments within the Delta State Civil Service.
According to her, such recognition was possible because the governor trusted proposals that were designed in the public interest.
“If he did not support me, will I be shining?” she asked rhetorically, adding that the governor’s willingness to approve initiatives gave her the confidence to pursue reforms.
She stressed that the proposals she put forward were not designed for personal benefit but were intended to serve the wider public interest.
13th-month salary law: a special farewell gift
One of the developments Oseji celebrated during her final address was the enactment of the state’s 13th-month salary provision.
She announced that the governor had signed the relevant bill into law, meaning that eligible workers would receive an additional month’s salary in December in accordance with the new law.
Oseji described the development as a significant achievement for workers and jokingly referred to it as a fitting “farewell gift” as she exited office.
The announcement drew attention to the broader issue of workers’ welfare, which remained one of the issues she highlighted in reflecting on her years in office.
A career colleagues say inspired them
For the civil servants who gathered to honour her, Oseji’s retirement represented the close of an important chapter.
They described her career as a testament to the power of dedication and perseverance, saying her rise through the public service demonstrated what could be achieved through discipline and commitment.
Several civil servants commended her immense sacrifice and contributions to civil service reforms, saying she helped promote a culture of professionalism and efficiency within the state service.
They also described her as an administrator who encouraged workers to embrace new ideas and remain committed to improving the quality of government service.
From neglected library to final parade
Perhaps the most fitting symbolism of Oseji’s final day was the renovated library where she addressed workers before proceeding to her Pulling-Out ceremony.
The library represented knowledge, continuity and investment in people.
The parade, on the other hand, represented the end of an era.
Between the two was a message that defined much of her farewell: public service must be about leaving institutions stronger than they were found.
As the Guard of Honour was mounted and the Pulling-Out Parade got underway, colleagues and officials watched as Oseji took her final ceremonial salute.
Standing among her successor, permanent secretaries, directors and other civil servants, she was celebrated not simply for occupying the office of Head of Service, but for the legacy she leaves behind.
Her final words to workers were therefore both a farewell and a challenge: be civil, be professional, embrace knowledge, pursue excellence, innovate and, above all, put the public interest first.
With that, Dr. Mininim Oseji formally bowed out of the Delta State Civil Service, leaving behind colleagues who say her career will be remembered for service, sacrifice, reform and an enduring commitment to excellence.
