Sali bows out as Head of Service

A new Head of Service of the Federation is expected to be named by the Presidency on Thursday.
This is sequel to the retirement of Isa Bello Sali from the service on Wednesday.
The Federal Executive Council held a valedictory session in honour of Sali prior to the commencement of the weekly FEC meeting at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
President Jonathan spoke kind words about the retiring Head of Service, congratulating him for being privileged to reach the top of his career.
He, however, hoped that Sali would be willing to serve the country when called upon in the future.
Jonathan said: “It is sad that you are leaving, but like every good thing, some day, somehow we will all leave.
“For you, I have to congratulate you because the joy of anybody who serves in the civil service and indeed any other organization be it private or public, when you have the privilege of attaining the highest office, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation is the highest office in the civil service.
“So many brilliant permanent secretaries couldn’t make it.
“Not because they are not good enough but for one thing or the other, they were a bit unlucky to get there.
“But you were able to get there.
“You are still very young and agile, but based on the laws of the and you are leaving, but we believe that you will still continue to serve this country, whereever you find yourself.
“If we beckon on you to serve the country again in any capacity, whether it is ad hoc or standing, we are hopeful that you will do so.”
A former former Head of Service and now Minister of Land and Housing, Ama Pepple, expressed sadness that Sali, was leaving the service.
Pepple said: “I worked with him a bit, I interacted with him a lot even while he was Head of Service.
“He is always calm in his quiet demeanour, but he is a very effective and efficient officer.
“I was not surprised that he was appointed Head of Service and your Excellency, I remember the first day he attended council you asked me to make comments about him and I know that he has not disappointed us.
“He is leaving the service at a time when the service is undergoing a lot of changes and getting a lot of knocks.
“Even here in Council, I know that a few times when he is in Council and the civil service is criticized and the civil servants get a lot of knocks, sometimes I expect him to react but most times he never say anything and even if he does, he says very few words in defence of the service.
“I do wish him well in all his future endeavours and I know that he will continue to put his long years of experience for this nation and the service to be able to use when the need arises.”
Also speaking, the Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, described Sali as a “sober and reflective” Head of Service.
Maku: “Your Excellency, we are all familiar with the brilliant career of this officer who has in the course of his service in the civil service distinguished himself in the civil service and worked in different departments and parastatals of government until he rose to the position of Permanent Secretary and eventually the Head of Service.
“One thing that we noticed in him since he joined us in Council as Head of Service, is that he is a very sober and reflective head of service and very calm even when things are stormy he retains his calm and we really appreciate the cooperation he extended to us.”
Meanwhile, President Jonathan has sworn in three new permanent secretaries.
They are Dr Habiba Lawal, Engr. John Obinna Chukwu and Mrs. Winifred Ekanem Oyo-Ita.
He charged them to be agents of transformation.