Joseph Bakare
The Permanent Secretary, State House, Temitope Fashedemi on Wednesday in Abuja, called on staff to demonstrate professionalism, responsiveness, efficiency, empathy and ownership while continuously seeking better ways of performing their duties.
He also called on them to develop the culture of always advancing customer satisfaction above every other consideration.
The Permanent Secretary, represented by the Director of Administration, Idris Abdulkadir, gave the charge in Abuja as the State House Ministerial Servicom Unit ( MSU) commemorated the 2026 Customer Service Week.
Mr Fashedemi said the celebration provides an opportunity to reflect on quality of service, recognize excellence and renew institutional commitment to delivering services beyond meeting expectations.
This, the Permanent Secretary said, was particularly relevant to the State House, given its strategic mandate to provide seamless, efficient and qualitative support to the President.
“I therefore call on officers to demonstrate professionalism, responsiveness, efficiency, empathy and ownership while continuously seeking better ways of performing their duties.
“The focus of the State House is to further emphasize service delivery which should produce measurable and meaningful results rather than merely completing assignments or routine tasks, ” the Permanent Secretary said.
He said this year’s celebration was also to recognize the challenges confronting the public service, including rising expectations, resource constraints, technological change, transparency and accountability requirements towards efficient service delivery.
He called on officers to embrace innovation through strengthening collaboration and optimal utilisation of available resources to improve service delivery processes.
“Staff are therefore encouraged to take personal responsibility for improving processes, listening to those they serve, using resources wisely, embracing innovation and ensuring that their services contribute meaningfully to the effectiveness of the presidency.
“The overall message is that service excellence should not be regarded as a one-week event, but as a continuous culture for State House, recognizing that this is the highest office in the nation,” he further said.
In his welcome remarks, the State House MSU Nodal Officer, Tayo Fasipe said Customer Service Week is a global event that seeks to recognize the immeasurable value of customers in business and governance.
He said this year’s theme, “The Extra Mile”, focused on encouraging staff to put in extra effort in ensuring service delivery, with the State House adding the dimension, “From Service to Impact.”
He called on staff to always ensure that they went “the extra mile” towards ensuring customers’ satisfaction in their daily schedule.
In her goodwill message, Acting National Coordinator of Servicom, Helen Lawal, represented by the Head of Operations, Ngozi Akinbodewa, said the key objectives of the celebration included the recognition and appreciation of individuals for exceptional service, boosting morale, encouraging exemplary behaviour and recommitting to service standards and quality improvement.
According to the National Coordinator, “The Extra Mile” is defined by qualities such as excellence, integrity, accountability, efficiency, timeliness and empathy, all aimed at citizens satisfaction and dignity.”
She said the colours of the celebration, which are Royal blue, White, Dark Gray / Black and Bright Orange, were of great significance, capable of propelling staff to attain the highest level in customer satisfaction.
She said the colours symbolized guidance, progress and citizen’s journey towards seeking satisfaction.
Earlier on Tuesday, the team had visited the State House Medical Centre and its Presidential Wing, as part of the celebration and to understand how the year’s theme applied to service delivery in the health sector.
The team was shown round the facilities by the Chief Medical Director ( CMD), Dr. Victoria Ogala-Akogwu, who said the year’s theme resonated with the medical personnel at the Centre as they always ensured that patients received the best human attention possible.
She assured the team that they will continue “to go the extra mile” in maintaining excellent service delivery.
Participants observed a minute silence in honour of victims of the NAF aircraft that crashed in Ogun State on Monday.