The Imam of the Abuja National Mosque, Muhammad Adam, has urged civil servants to discharge their duties with the interest of Nigeria at heart, describing them as critical to national development.
Adam made the call during a sermon at the National Mosque in Abuja as part of activities marking the Civil Service Week, which coincided with programmes of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
The cleric described civil servants as the backbone of the nation and urged them to remain committed to their responsibilities and contribute meaningfully to the country’s growth.
“Nigeria is our country; everybody should take it as a duty to contribute to its development. We call on all stakeholders to work towards ensuring that Nigeria remains peaceful,” he said.
He also prayed for divine intervention in addressing the country’s security challenges and asked Allah to grant wisdom and guidance to Nigeria’s leaders.
Speaking on the welfare of workers, Adam appealed to government authorities to review the salaries and welfare packages of civil servants in view of prevailing economic realities.
“I call on the government to look into this issue compassionately and upgrade the salaries of civil servants so that they can have what they need to effectively discharge their duties,” he said.
The Imam acknowledged that economic challenges were a global phenomenon but emphasised the need for measures that would cushion their impact on Nigerian workers.
He also warned youths against the abuse of illicit drugs, describing substance abuse as a major threat to society and a driver of criminal activities.
“Bandits, kidnappers and other criminals cannot carry out their activities without the influence of hard drugs. We therefore call on the general public to desist from the use of illicit drugs,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack, represented by Dr Shuaib Belgore, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, offered prayers for Nigeria’s peace, progress and prosperity.
Walson-Jack said the Nigerian civil service remained service-oriented and focused on delivering quality services to citizens rather than pursuing profit.
“The Nigerian civil service is basically about service. Service means bringing the best possible service to Nigerians and providing quality services to the people,” she said.
She added that the civil service would continue to improve its operations while seeking divine guidance to better serve Nigerians and contribute to national development.