Renown columnist Amb. Isaac Sagay has called for the return to the pursuit of excellence in public service, in particular and national life in general.
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Speaking on his new books, which were launched in Abuja, Thursday, he said there was no alternative to a deliberate effort on the part of state and non- state actors to ensure that Nigeria takes her place of pride in the comity of nations through dint of hard and commitment to excellence.
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According to him, he wrote the books, "Studies in English & Art of Official Correspondence in the Nigerian Civil/Public Service" and "The Sacred Flame" out of a passion for maintaining high standards in the quality of service delivery among civil and public servants in the country and in response to several invitations by Permanent Secretaries for him to conduct workshops for their staff on correspondence capacity.
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His words, "to be candid, it all started with incessant requests by Permanent Secretaries that I should conduct workshops for senior staff of their ministries. Even the Head of Service at a time wanted me to do the same. It was then it occurred to me that I should write this book. If you conduct a workshop, people would listen with one ear and close the other ear but if you write a book, there is a reference point. So, in this book, you will find all the guidance to be a good and proficient civil servant.