Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, was moved to tears on Monday during a condolence visit to the family of the late Grace Adayilo, the pioneer Head of Civil Service of the FCT, who passed away in the early hours of September 1, 2025.
POLITICS NIGERIA learned that Wike, who was accompanied by senior officials of the FCT Administration, described Adayilo’s death as a monumental loss to the civil service and the country at large. He recalled her groundbreaking appointment in October 2024 by President Bola Tinubu, noting that she had not only become the first substantive Head of Service in the FCT but also the first woman to hold the office.
“She was a trailblazer, a dedicated public servant, and an inspiration to many young women in the civil service. Her passing is a painful blow to all of us who worked closely with her,” Wike said emotionally, struggling to hold back tears as he addressed her family.
A Distinguished Career
Before her elevation to Head of Service, Adayilo served as Permanent Secretary of the Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat, where she was widely praised for her reforms and commitment to transparency. Her career was marked by decades of service within the FCT Administration, where she earned a reputation for discipline and professionalism.
While the exact cause of her death has not been disclosed, her Special Assistant on Media, Anthony Odey, confirmed her passing in a brief message but declined to provide further details. As of press time, neither her family nor the FCT Administration had issued an official statement on the circumstances surrounding her demise.
Adayilo’s death comes barely a day after the passing of former Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase, at a hospital in Abuja, adding to the air of grief that has enveloped the nation’s capital.
The FCT Minister urged Nigerians to honour Adayilo’s memory by upholding the values of dedication and service she embodied. “We have lost a rare gem,” Wike said. “But her legacy will continue to inspire generations of civil servants.”