By Florence Okpeti
Marking United Nations Public Service Day on June 23, government and civil society actors joined a global call to recognise public servants’ vital role in driving sustainable development, social justice and inclusive governance.
Established by the UN General Assembly in 2002, the day celebrates the value of public service, highlights the work of civil servants and encourages young people to consider careers in the public sector. It also underscores the need for integrity and accountability in government.
Since 2003, the UN Public Service Awards have honoured innovative public administration that makes government more effective, responsive and inclusive. The 2026 theme “Transforming Public Institutions: Advancing Innovation, Participation, and Inclusion” focuses attention on how institutions must evolve to meet citizens’ needs.
Public servants from teachers and healthcare workers to administrators and security personnel were praised as the backbone of society, delivering essential services even during crises. At the same time, organisers warned that austerity, privatization, underfunding and precarious employment threaten both workers’ rights and service quality.
Delegates at the annual UN Public Service forum discussed best practices through workshops, awards ceremonies and ministerial roundtables. Participants stressed that strengthening public service requires investment in personnel, improved transparency and greater citizen participation.
Speakers noted Nigeria’s reliance on dedicated public servants in education, healthcare and security, and highlighted the particular importance of robust local governance in states such as Anambra, where services directly affect community wellbeing.
The event closed with renewed appeals for policy measures that support public service workers and reform institutions to be more inclusive and innovative a foundation, organisers said, for democracy, equity and sustainable growth.
Florence Okpeti is of the Ministry of Information and Value Reformation, Anambra State
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