By ENITAN ABEL JOHNGOLD ORHERUATA
The Delta State Civil Service on Wednesday rolled out the drums in honour of the immediate past Head of Service, Dr. (Mrs.) Mininim Oseji, as she bowed out of service after a distinguished career marked by reforms, innovation, discipline and an unwavering commitment to the public interest.
Oseji was honoured with a colourful Guard of Honour and Pulling-Out Parade held at the premises of the Office of the Head of Service in Asaba, the Delta State capital.
The ceremony attracted her successor, Dr. (Mrs.) Igho Charity Babigha-Ehimen, permanent secretaries, directors and a large gathering of civil and public servants who came to celebrate the career and contributions of the retiring Head of Service.
The atmosphere was one of both celebration and reflection, as colleagues and subordinates described Oseji’s years in service as a period of significant transformation in the Delta State public service.
Civil servants who spoke during the ceremony commended her for what they described as an impressive combination of hard work, discipline, dedication, sacrifice and perseverance, noting that her career demonstrated that commitment to duty and service could produce lasting institutional impact.
They particularly credited her with contributing to the development of a more professional, efficient and effective public service in Delta State.
A farewell message wrapped in a new library
One of the defining moments of Oseji’s final day in office was her address to workers at the newly renovated Governor’s Office Library at the Old Secretariat on Summit Road, Asaba.
Standing in the refurbished facility, Oseji reflected on the condition in which she had found the library and the decision to transform it into a functional centre for reading, research and intellectual engagement.
“When I discovered the dilapidated condition of the library, I said, ‘Let us have something that anybody that walks in will know that, yes, these people have come to read and discuss about reading,’” she said.
She expressed satisfaction that the renovation had been completed before her retirement.
“We are very happy that we were able to achieve it before I finally bow out. And so I’m ready to bow out,” she added.
For Oseji, however, the renovated library represented more than a physical improvement to a government facility. It was a symbol of the kind of civil service she wanted to leave behind — one that values knowledge, continuous learning, research and professional development.
She disclosed that plans had also been made to incorporate e-library services into the facility to enable workers to conduct research and broaden their access to information.
Oseji said she hoped the initiative would encourage Delta’s public servants to pursue higher academic qualifications and strengthen the intellectual capacity of the state’s workforce.
“I hope that many of you will become Master’s holders, PhD holders and everybody would know that Delta State is a state of intellectuals,” she said.
“Put the public interest first”
In her farewell message to workers at the Old Secretariat, Oseji expressed appreciation for their support and cooperation throughout her tenure.
She urged civil servants across the state to continue to place the public interest above personal considerations.
“Public interest should come first. Personal interest, yes, is there, but it should never override the public interest,” she admonished.
She also appealed to public servants to live up to the meaning of the word civil in their conduct, urging them to demonstrate courtesy, restraint and professionalism in their interactions with members of the public and colleagues.
According to her, there should be no room for foul language, gangsterism, hooliganism or uncivil behaviour within the public service.
“We do not want hoodlums. We do not want gangsters. We do not want miscreants. We do not want hooligans. We want civil servants and public servants who are civil in every way,” she said.
She challenged workers to ensure that their conduct and professional competence would make members of the public recognise them as effective representatives of the Delta State Government.
A tribute to Governor Oborevwori
Oseji also used the occasion to acknowledge the support she received from the state governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, during her tenure.
She said the backing of the governor enabled her to pursue and implement initiatives aimed at improving the state public service.
Reflecting on interactions with Heads of Service from other states, Oseji said she often received commendations about the performance of the Delta State Civil Service.
She attributed such recognition not only to the efforts of civil servants but also to the support and approval of the governor.
“If he did not support me, will I be shining? I cannot write; he will not approve. But when I write, he approves, and that is because he knows that what I am writing is genuine, not fake, and that it is for the public interest, not just personal interest,” she said.
Oseji therefore urged public servants to reciprocate such support by remaining committed to the goals and development of the state.
13th-month salary law celebrated
The outgoing Head of Service also highlighted the passage of the state’s 13th-month salary provision, describing the development as one of the achievements that gave her cause for celebration as she exited office.
According to Oseji, the governor had signed the bill into law, making the provision for workers to receive an additional month’s salary in December a legal entitlement.
She described the development as a fitting “farewell gift” to civil servants.
The initiative, she said, demonstrated the administration’s commitment to the welfare of workers and gave public servants another reason to remain committed to their duties.
The making of an effective public servant
Speaking later in an interview at the Pulling-Out ceremony, Oseji outlined what she described as the qualities required of an effective public servant.
She identified courtesy, discipline, transparency, efficiency and resilience as essential attributes, while stressing the importance of hard work, innovation, thoroughness, ICT compliance and a result-oriented mindset.
She also emphasised the importance of proper dressing and professional appearance, noting that public servants should understand that their conduct, competence and appearance all contribute to the image of government.
Oseji encouraged public officers to identify unique opportunities through which they could promote their professions and demonstrate their expertise.
Her message was therefore not simply a farewell to the civil service, but also a charge to those remaining behind to raise the bar of professionalism.
A career remembered by colleagues
For many of the civil servants who gathered to witness her final ceremonial exit, the occasion was an opportunity to celebrate a career they described as impactful.
They commended Oseji’s immense sacrifice and contributions to civil service reforms in Delta State, describing her career as a reflection of hard work, discipline, dedication and perseverance.
According to them, those qualities enabled her to rise through the ranks and eventually occupy one of the most influential administrative positions in the state.
They said her tenure contributed to the pursuit of a more professional, efficient and effective public service, adding that her approach to reform demonstrated the importance of persistence in achieving institutional change.
A symbolic exit
The Pulling-Out Parade provided a fitting ceremonial conclusion to Oseji’s tenure.
As she took her final salute, surrounded by her successor, permanent secretaries, directors and fellow civil servants, the ceremony served as both a farewell and a reminder of the responsibilities that accompany public office.
From the renovation of a neglected library to her insistence on professionalism, ethical conduct and public interest, Oseji used her final hours in office to reinforce the values she wanted the Delta State Civil Service to uphold.
Her departure may mark the end of one chapter, but the institutions and initiatives strengthened during her tenure will remain part of the continuing story of the state’s public service.
For the civil servants who gathered to honour her, however, the message was clear: a career in public service is ultimately measured not merely by the office occupied, but by the lives, institutions and systems made better through one’s service.
And as Dr. Mininim Oseji bowed out, the Guard of Honour and Pulling-Out Parade became not just a ceremonial farewell, but a celebration of a career that colleagues say was defined by service, sacrifice, reform and a commitment to excellence.