The Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) has advised it’s retiring staff to float consultancy outfits, make their doors open, and their expertise available for the benefit of the authority.
Executive secretary of FCDA, Engr Shehu Hadi-Ahmad gave the advice at a ceremony to the mark the retirement of three directors of the authority in Abuja at the weekend.
Hadi-Ahmad also advised those that would succeed the directors to learn from the challenges of their predecessors and to build on their successes to move FCDA forward.
He explained that the authority is celebrating the three retiring directors for their unblemished, satisfactory, and committed service to humanity and as members of the FCDA family, as well as their contributions to the development of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
According to him, “The FCDA had and has always operated as a family. So, when a family member gets to the terminal point of his career, it is only fair that the family comes together and celebrate his exit.
The gentlemen we are celebrating today have satisfactorily, and committedly served their fatherland and have been here for 35 years, knowing nothing other than coming to serve in the FCDA.”
The executive secretary noted that the retiring directors have spent the maximum part of their lives in their service to the authority, adding that there is every cause for everyone to be happy for them.as they exit honourably and unblemishly.
The retiring directors are, director of legal services, Isah Abdullahi, director, department of engineering design and evaluation, Bello Tunau, and the director of public building, Adebowale Ademo.
Speaking with newsmen, one of the retirees, Adebowale Ademo, described his years of service in the FCDA as very fulfilling and leaving the service a fulfilled man.
He promised that his doors would be opened to support the development of the federal capital.
“We believe that success without a successor is not good enough. We’ve been very deliberate and intentional in grooming those that we have served together to be able to do the things we have been able to do and even better, “he said.
It was was the same for Abdullahi, who described his retirement as the best moment of his life, citing the specialised training and expertise he acquired in legal drafting in different areas.
He stressed: “I handled a lot of Bills that today are in operation in the FCTA. The FCT Internal Revenue Service Law is one of the laws that I saw through and today, it is one of the agencies of the FCTA that is vibrant.
“There is also the FCT College of Education (COE) Law that established the College of Education, Zuba. and several others.
“Today, we are talking about the FCT Civil Service Commission. It is also one of the laws that I drafted and currently at the verge of being implemented.”
Also speaking , the director, department of engineering design and evaluation, Bello Tunau said he had fully prepared for the retirement, saying, “I am a professional so I will continue my practice. There is no idle time anymore; life continues in or out of service.”