Housing Ministry Pushes Merit Culture In Civil Service, Honours Top Performers

The Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development has honoured eleven outstanding staff members at its 2025 Ministerial Rewards and Recognition Awards, in a renewed push to entrench merit, productivity and accountability across the civil service.

The ceremony, held at the Ministry’s headquarters in Abuja, brought together top officials, directors and staff in a show of institutional commitment to rewarding excellence and boosting morale within government service.

Speaking at the event, the minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, said the awards initiative aligns with directives from the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation to institutionalise performance-based recognition across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

He described the event as a “proud moment” for the Ministry, noting that the awardees emerged from a competitive and transparent selection process that reflected a wide spread of departments and professional categories.

Dangiwa also stressed the importance of mentorship in sustaining institutional capacity, urging senior officers to deliberately groom younger staff before retirement. According to him, effective knowledge transfer remains critical to strengthening the future of the civil service.

In his remarks, the permanent secretary, Shuaib Belgore, said the awards were designed to motivate staff, encourage healthy competition and reinforce a culture of excellence and accountability within the Ministry.

He added that the Ministry aims to improve its performance at national civil service award platforms, where some of its staff had previously excelled. “Our goal is not just to participate, but to win multiple awards, including the overall best in the Civil Service category,” he said, noting that such recognition comes with incentives including houses, vehicles and computers.

Belgore explained that the awardees were selected through a rigorous, merit-driven process, stressing that although many officers were qualified, those honoured represented the highest level of performance within the system.

He further disclosed that the Ministry has institutionalised continuous recognition mechanisms, including monthly staff awards and departmental “Staff of the Month” initiatives, culminating in the annual honours.

Earlier, director of Special Projects, Olatunde Ajayi, described the ceremony as a platform to celebrate excellence and inspire improved service delivery across the workforce.

Ajayi assured that the selection process adhered strictly to federal public service guidelines, with emphasis on measurable performance, accountability, commitment and continuous improvement.

The awards ceremony, observers say, reflects a broader effort within the civil service to shift from tenure-based progression to performance-driven recognition, as government seeks to improve efficiency and service delivery nationwide.