The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, has eulogised the retired Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr Ngozi Onwudiwe for her contributions in the effective management of the ministry’s affairs.
Idris also restated the commitment of the ministry to deliver on its mandate and effective propagation of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu to move the country forward.
The Minister stated these in Abuja at a sendforth ceremony to celebrate the retirement of Onwudiwe after she attained the age of 60 in the federal civil service.
According to Idris, the coming together and celebration is a testament of the kind of working relationship that existed among the staff of the ministry and by extension to those in Ministries of Tourism, and Culture and Creative Economy.
He commended her effort during her reign as Permanent Secretary in the three Ministries.
“Onwudiwe and I have been having a normal squabbles that exist between Ministers and Permanent Secretaries. There is nothing wrong with that.
“She was trying to make a better administrator and I was trying to make her a better information manager.
“However, at the end of the day, there is absolutely nothing that we have wanted to do with her for the good of the nation and ministry that we did not achieve.
“Sometime, it could be a little frustrating, and because I am also a due process person, I cannot jump over her to the directors. She is efficient and carry out her duties to the point that we were always on same page.
“Dr Ngozi, Thank you for the services you have rendered and the due process you instituted in the ministry. We will miss you, but will keep you close. I know that, the Director overseeing the office will continue to engage you for the interest of the ministry and nation.
“For us, we have a duty to ensure that the programmes and polices of Tinubu as put down is ventilated to Nigerians, so that all of us will come together and keep doing out job.”
Responding, Onwudiwe said she had always wanted to work with a male Minister.
“Alhaji Mohammed Idris is an Angel; his background is different from mine; he is a politician from the private sector, and I am a civil servant, a core bureaucrat.
“He will want something done fast. I will assure him, but add that, it has to pass due process. This is because, I don’t want to do something that would put my minister in a negative light.
“In spite of our difference, we were able to pull through as a ministry. My Minister, I don’t know how to say thank you for being a good mentor to me. I can never take it for granted.
“I have learnt a lot from you. Even though I am not an Information Officer, I am almost becoming one, and I know, if given the opportunity I will become one.
“I have retired and you are sending me forth, but am not going anywhere. I am still around. I am a phone call away and will say, I enjoy working with you sir.”
She also thanked the Heads of parastatal agencies under the Ministry for the cordial working relationship she enjoyed with them.
The retired Permanent Secretary appreciated all the directors, her staff, family members and colleagues for being there for her.
Newsspecng.com reports that some staff of the ministry in their remarks congratulated her and wished her the best in her future endeavour.
