The Director of Finance and Accounts, Bashir Alkali, who was recently appointed a Permanent Secretary has left the Presidential Villa, Abuja, after a five-year stint in the seat of power.
According to a statement on Sunday by the Deputy Director (Information), State House, Attah Esa, a send-off dinner was on Saturday held in honour of Alkali who is billed to resume as Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, this week.
Esa, in the statement, titled, ‘State House bids farewell to the director of finance,’ said members of staff of the State House, led by the Permanent Secretary, Tijjani Umar, bade Alkali farewell at the dinner attended by three retired permanent secretaries of the State House, management staff and some senior presidential aides.
He said the 57-year-old Kano-born chartered accountant was posted to the State House in August 2015 as DFA and was on that schedule until August 2020 when he was appointed as a permanent secretary.
“He (Alkali) was a consummate, calm, confident and without a doubt, diligent officer. He was also courageous and caring. He was on top of his game, meticulous, engaging, strategic, and a classic problem solver,” the statement quoted Umar as saying at the dinner.
Esa also quoted the immediate past Permanent Secretary State House, Mr Jalal Arabi, as saying that he had no doubt Alkali would prove his mettle in his new position.
Responding, Alkali thanked serving and retired colleagues in the civil service for the goodwill, prayers and best wishes to succeed in the new assignment.
