A former Secretary to Government of the Federation, Gidado Idris, is dead.
He was aged 82.
Idris died in Abuja at the weekend, and was buried yesterday according to Islamic rites.
He hailed from Zaria, Kaduna State. He was appointed SGF in 1993 and retired in 1999 after a civil service career that started before Nigeria’s independence.
President Muhammadu Buhari described the death of Idris as a big loss to the nation. Also, Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, expressed sadness over the death, while Governor of Kaduna State, extolled the former SFG’s humility and discipline.
President Buhari, in a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and publicity, Femi Adesina, also said that the late Idris, in addition to rising to the pinnacle of his public career as SGF, also served several civilian and military administrations meritoriously as federal permanent secretary.
Idris, he added, has left inspiring imprints and enjoined current and upcoming civil and public servants to emulate the cherished values of hard work, discipline, professionalism and integrity which the late distinguished nationalist embodied.
Saraki, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, said with the death of the former SGF Nigeria has lost an elder Statesman and a bridge builder.
According to the senate president, “Nigeria has lost a highly principled bridge builder who cultivated a high degree of friendship from the lowest to the highest across the country.”
El-Rufai in a statement said “Alhaji Idris was a dedicated public servant who provided decades of distinguished service to this country. He was a father to us, widely admired for his humility and discipline.
“I personally benefitted from his humility, wisdom and foresight, when I served as a presidential advisor in the Programme Implementation and Monitoring Committee from 1998 to 1999.”