Public Office Demands Sacrifice, Discipline — VP Shettima

The Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, has charged public servants in Nigeria to imbibe the virtues of selflessness and excellence, marked by a commitment to daily discipline, consistency of effort and strength of character.

According to him, enduring legacies in public service are the ones sustained by a consistent dedication to excellence, resilience and hard work regardless of the challenges of building enduring institutions.

Senator Shettima spoke in Abuja on Tuesday during a colloquium organised to commemorate the 50th birthday of Hajiya Hadiza Bala Usman, Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Coordination and Head, Central Delivery Coordination Unit.

“If we are to raise more generations of Nigerians ready to lead with purpose, to deliver with excellence, and to serve with courage, we must remember this truth: intention without the willingness to pay the price of service remains wishful thinking,” he stated in a statement by his spokesman, Stanley Nkwocha.

Eulogising the celebrant’s distinguished and unique public service career, the Vice President described Hadiza Bala Usman as a mirror not only for the northern Nigerian girl, but for the nation itself.

He said, “There is no doubt that Hadiza’s place in our public service history is secure. This is so because it was not built on spectacle, nor did it rely on applause. What she has become was a product of decisions taken quietly, responsibilities carried fully, and institutions strengthened with care.”

VP Shettima said Hadiza Bala Usman earned her influence in Nigeria’s public service, continually shaping the country’s national direction through “a rare combination of gifts: grace, strengthened by grit; clarity, guided by courage, vision and excellence.”

He continued: “What has not been noted enough about our celebrant is that she is emerging from a part of our country where many young women still search for proof that ambition such as hers is permitted.

“Indeed, her journey required courage, and that is why she has become that proof. Its trials were visible. Its demands were exacting. Its rewards were earned. Nigeria watched her grow into responsibility early, stepping into critical policy spaces when many are still finding their voice.”

Maintaining that Hadiza’s achievements were never accidental, Senator Shettima noted that the celebrant’s rise in public service was deliberate, earned and sustained by a faithful commitment to the difficult work of building a functional nation.

“May your example continue to guide those who still believe that service, when done well, can ennoble a nation,” the VP added.

Earlier, Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, said Usman’s life remains a shining example of discipline.

He urged the celebrant to remain steadfast in advancing the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, expressing optimism that her years ahead will be marked by continuous, impactful service to Nigeria.

For his part, Chief of Staff to the President, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, explained that the gathering was aimed at honouring a life defined by purpose, courage, and an unwavering commitment to service and value addition to the Tinubu administration.

Gbajabiamila noted that when Usman transitioned fully into government at the state and national levels, she introduced structure to governance and clarity in priorities.

He recalled how the presidential aide eventually enforced reforms in one of Nigeria’s most strategic and complex agencies, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), thereby raising the standard of leadership and service within the agency.

Also, the Minister for Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, recognised Usman’s service and commitment to public institutions in Nigeria, particularly the Ministry of Youth Development.

He noted that her relevance in public service has resulted in her supportive roles in many initiatives aimed at benefiting youths across the country.

The Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Zubaida Umar Abubakar, described Usman as a friend of over three decades.

According to her, the celebrant exemplifies an overwhelming commitment to principles, matched with quiet clarity and conviction, both in private and public life.

Speaking on “Leadership Delivery and the Courage to Serve,” the keynote speaker at the colloquium, a former Director General of the Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR), Dr Joe Abah, said serving Nigeria at a senior level is a privilege only a few would attain, entailing that those who occupy such roles must positively impact the lives of the citizenry.

Highlighting a number of leadership lessons practically expressed through Usman’s life, he said, “Your work no longer speaks for you,” adding that one must now speak for their work due to the emergence of fake news and critics.

He noted that leading people remains difficult, and that leaders may not see the impact of their actions in government until they leave office.

On her part, the celebrant, Hadiza, said she was humbled by the personalities who graced the colloquium, just as she thanked President Tinubu, Vice President Shettima, and others for contributing to her political career and personal life.

She recalled her roles in election planning since 2015 and at the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA), and used the opportunity to recommit herself to the Renewed Hope Agenda for the betterment of Nigeria.