The Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Finance, James Faleke (APC-Lagos) has urged civil servants to prioritise integrity and due process for speedy development of the country.

Mr Faleke gave the charge during an interview with journalists on the sidelines of a book launch to mark the 60th birthday and retirement of the Clerk of the committee, Oscar Okoro, on Sunday in Abuja

The book authored by Okoro is titled: “The Nigerian Legislature; A Practical Guide for Lawmakers.”

The lawmaker described Mr Okoro as a dedicated, committed and hardworking civil servant who should be emulated by younger generations.

He stated, “Mainly, the civil servants build the country. They are the technocrats. They are the people that we, politicians, rely on.

“And if they decide to get things done properly, I think the country will be better off. Even when the politician says let us do it the other way and the civil servant says no, let us follow the rules. I think Nigeria will be better off.

“It is about dedication to the development of Nigeria. When you trust and believe in the country, you will want to see the success of the country.

“Okoro is a very, very hardworking guy. Unlike others, he is not money conscious; he just wants to see things done accordingly and appreciably.

“And for every time I push him hard, he works harder; I believe he is going to succeed very well in his retirement. So I wish him luck, and I pray that the family would get the better of him.”

Also speaking the Deputy Chairman of the committee, Rep. Abubakar Saidu (APC-Niger), said that Mr Okoro’s relationship with him went beyond official to family.

Mr Saidu described the retiring clerk as exemplary and a professional, saying that the younger generation would have a lot to learn from him.

“He is very dedicated, very patient; he is a professional, excellent and committed as well as exemplary when it comes to the job,” he said.

On his part, the spokesman for the house, Akin Rotimi (APC-Ekiti), described Mr Okoro as a model public servant and commended him for the meritorious service rendered to the National Assembly and indeed the country.

“My encouragement to people in service is that, this is the kind of person to model and pattern their careers after, people that have integrity and have made diligence their watchword,” he said.

MrRotimi said that though the system had inbuilt mentorship and leadership recruitment processes, Mr Okoro’s wealth of experience and expertise would be greatly missed.

Responding, Mr Okoro attributed his success in life to God, saying that life itself is a very difficult and cautious journey.

“You have to know your onions, be hardworking, be patient, humble and respectful; if these are lacking, you are bound to fail either in the National Assembly or anywhere in life,” he said.

Mr Okoro said that he would return to legal practice and consultancy, and dedicate the rest of his life to mentorship of younger generations and service to God.

Earlier, the book reviewer, Prof. Kabir Danladi of the Department of Public Law, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), said that the book is a demonstration of hard work and dedication to service exhibited by the author in his 27 years of service to the nation.

Mr Danladi said that the book provides a practical and institutional guide for the Nigerian legislature, with focus on the National Assembly.

According to him, the book covers the constitutional foundation of National Assembly, internal structure, legislative procedure, oversight functions and its relationship with other arms of government.

Mr Danladi said that the 335-page book is structured across nine chapters, each addressing a distinct legislative life from historical foundation, constitutional law to practical step-by-step guidance on legislative procedure.

He recommended the book for all lawmakers, politicians and Nigerians in general to enhance their understanding of the legislature.

(NAN)