The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) over the weekend launched laurels for outstanding frontline workers and other critical stakeholders who have demonstrated uncommon passion and act of exemplary conducts in the course of service to humanity during the peak of COVID-19 pandemic.
They also pledged to institutionalize an annual staff recognition and award for outstanding performance as part of efforts to boost staff morale and promote productivity in the service.
Speaking at the maiden edition of the FCTA staff recognition award for the year 2020, the FCT Minister of State, Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, hinted that the Administration was keen at ensuring that staff contribution was recognised and acknowledged through this annual reward system.
Aliyu commended the award winners for their enormous roles played during the lockdown, however, reminded staff of the Administration that the purpose of the award ceremony was to improve staff loyalty and motivation to duty.
She further noted that the award system was to provide guidelines to recognize unique, value added and performance objective in order to align staff with core values of the Federal Capital Territory Administration which would in turn help the Administration serve its residents and visitors better.
According to her ; “This ceremony also underscores a clear intent to continue to pilot the reform initiatives of the Federal Government such as institutionalising the award for outstanding performance. I am as convinced as you all are, that society is indeed dynamic and we shall be required to do new things in new ways in our search for genuine solutions to the problems we seek to confront”.
Earlier, the FCTA Permanent Secretary, Mr. Olusade Adesola, noted that the public service rule acknowledges the need to accord recognition to services rendered, adding that the Administration has put in place and would implement reforms designed to move the FCT civil service to a greater heights.
He said , “The Public Service Rule in section 150 106 provide that any officer who in the course of his official duties, carries out a unique act or, in perilous circumstances, secures the safety of human life or property may also be considered for an award as the occasion warrants”.
Adesola also revealed that as part of effort to enable staff attained their career progression, the Administration had since September 2020 conducted promotion exercise for 2019 and 2020 fiscal year resulting to the promotion of about 12,235 staff on grade level 4–16.
He added that the Administration had also issued the 2021 promotion exercise circular to ensure that as far as possible staff no longer lose their seniority from missed promotion exercise, adding that the Administration has reviewed and obtained approvals for conversation, advancement for over 200 staff who have acquired additional qualifications to enable them migrate to other cadres.
The category of awards during the ceremony include award for special recognition for auxiliary staff, medal for exceptional public service for former and current staff, medal of distinction for outstanding performance, medal of star of bravery or courage for paramilitary personnel, special recognition for corporate citizens and development partners, medal for outstanding leadership, customer friendly SDAs amongst others.
