The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, was on Saturday honoured with “Outstanding Revenue Collection” award at the Nigeria Excellence Award in Public Service (NEAPS).
Adeniyi was among the 44 recipients of the NEAPS awards during a ceremony at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Other recipients of the award include Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, Chief of Staff to the President Femi Gbajabiamila, and Deputy Chief of Staff to the President (Office of the Vice President) Senator Ibrahim Hadejia. Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, Seyi Makinde, the Governor of Oyo State, Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun, Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa State, Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, and Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah of Enugu State were recognised for their sector-specific interventions.
Others were FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, CBN Governor Olayemi Cardoso, President of Dangote Group Alhaji Aliko Dangote, former SGF Boss Mustapha and Founder/Chairman of Zenith Bank Chief Jim Ovia.
Vice President Kashim Shettima, who represented President Tinubu at the event, emphasised that the awards were about embedding a culture of recognition and reward in the public service.
He said public institutions are not personal enterprises and that public servants are employees of the Nigerian people.
In an interview after receiving the award, Adeniyi affirmed his commitment to advancing Nigeria’s economy through revenue collection and trade facilitation.
“This national recognition is a challenge for the service to double its efforts in making this country proud. It motivates public officials to dedicate themselves and perform diligently in office,” he said.
Speaking earlier at the award ceremony, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, urged all the recipients of the awards to continue their exemplary work. He emphasised that the selected individuals and organisations were chosen based on objective criteria from both the public and private sectors.
He said NEAPS was an award for recognising innovation, leadership and significant contributions to public service and the nation’s development.