Head of Service Urges Civil Servants to Embrace Fitness for Greater Productivity
Oru Leonard
The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, has called on federal civil servants to embrace regular physical exercise as a key driver of improved productivity, better health, and more efficient service delivery.
Speaking during the July Walking and Jogging Exercise under the Public Service Games Programme at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, on Saturday, Walson-Jack said the Federal Government remains committed to building a healthy, resilient, and high-performing public service through sustained wellness and sporting initiatives.
She emphasized that physical fitness is more than a recreational activity, describing it as a strategic investment in the wellbeing and effectiveness of the nation’s workforce.
According to her, regular exercise improves mental alertness, reduces stress, enhances emotional wellbeing, and equips public servants with the energy and resilience needed to deliver quality services to Nigerians.
“A healthy workforce is the foundation of an efficient and result-oriented public service. Exercise keeps the body fit, the mind active, and the spirit refreshed. When public servants maintain healthy lifestyles, they become more productive, more creative, and better equipped to discharge their responsibilities efficiently,” she said.
The Head of Service noted that the monthly fitness programme reflects the government’s determination to institutionalize wellness across the Federal Civil Service, adding that healthier workers are more motivated, experience fewer health challenges, and contribute more effectively to national development.
She also urged Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to increase their participation in the forthcoming Federal Public Service Games (FEPSGA), encouraging stronger commitment from all agencies to make the games a celebration of unity, teamwork, and healthy living.
Permanent Secretary, Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr. Garba Abdullahi, commended participating MDAs, describing the monthly walking and jogging exercise as an important platform for fostering unity, collaboration, and stronger interpersonal relationships among civil servants regardless of rank or cadre.
Similarly, the Permanent Secretary,
Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Dr. Kamil A. Shoretire, praised the initiative, saying it promotes both physical and mental wellbeing while helping to prevent lifestyle-related illnesses such as hypertension and diabetes. He encouraged public servants to adopt exercise as a regular lifestyle beyond the monthly programme.
The July fitness exercise attracted an impressive turnout from MDAs, with the Federal Ministry of Works leading the attendance category with 52 participants, followed by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security with 43, while the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development placed third with 28 participants.
In the overall attendance rankings, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security retained first place with 182 participants, ahead of the Federal Ministry of Works with 148 and the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment with 126.
The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security also emerged as the Best Kitted Ministry, ahead of the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development. In the Best Behaved Ministry category, the Federal Ministry of Youth Development claimed first position, followed by the Federal Ministry of Interior and the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.
The monthly Walking and Jogging Exercise remains one of the flagship wellness programmes of the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, designed to promote healthy living, strengthen teamwork, and enhance productivity across Nigeria’s Federal Public Service.
