President Bola Tinubu has approved automatic employment for the four children of the late Head of the Civil Service of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Dr. Grace Adayilo.
FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, disclosed this on Saturday during the funeral service at the National Ecumenical Centre, Abuja.
Top government officials, civil servants, family and friends gathered to pay their last respects to Adayilo.She died recently in Abuja.
Wike described her death as a painful loss, noting that she was a committed, humble and diligent public servant whose contributions to the FCT Administration would be missed.
The Minister praised Adayilo’s dedication to duty, recalling how she discharged her responsibilities with passion and without excuses.
He noted that she was instrumental in ensuring timely payment of salaries and entitlements for civil servants, while also being a respected mobilizer within her community.
Wike said: ” We all know that we will die one day, that is guaranteed.
“When you get to meet with people in life, you know that there are people that you will never pray to miss. There are people you work with in life, you want it to continue.
“It becomes more painful when there is no sign that somebody whom you are relating with, somebody you are working with, he just comes to work and the next day you hear that the person is no longer there, the person has passed on. It is very, very painful. I have worked with people of different categories.
“When I came to FCT in August 2023, I have worked with civil servants from the state, from the local government, and down to the federal level. I can see that there is a difference, that there are people who are so passionate, and committed to every assignment you give them. I didn’t know her personally, but I think I saw her when she was appointed and was the first set of permanent secretaries appointed by Mr. President.
“Of course, all of us know that before this period, there were no permanent secretaries in FCTA. Permanent secretaries were been posted from the federal civil service, but by the grace of God, Mr. President changed that to encourage the civil servants who will retire when they get to their director level, and that has given so many people the opportunity to be appointed as permanent secretaries. And that was my first time, I can say I met her.
“On behalf of Federal Capital Territory administration on behalf of Mr. President, I want to say, sorry. We send our condolences to the families, to the children and extended family.
“Mr. President has directed me to give the four children automatic employment. Because, Mr. President understands, that now that there is no bread winner for them to survive. She is all and all for the family”.