No fewer than 10, 000 delegates from the federal, state and local government civil service are expected to participate in various sporting activities during the 42nd edition of the Federal Civil Services games slated for 4th to 14th of December, 2023, in Niger state.

The state Head of Civil Service (HoS), Niger State, Salisu Abubakar, made the disclosure shortly after the flag-off of the bi-monthly morning exercise at the Legbo Kutigi International Center in Minna, the state capital.

The right to host the games was granted to Niger State by the Head of Service of the Federation, and the development was followed by a directive by Governor Mohammed Umar Bago for the introduction of bi-monthly physical fitness exercises to keep the state’s workers in shape for the competition.

The decision , according to him was to assist senior cadre civil servants to be physically and mentally fit to do their jobs without excuses.

” We are encouraging interested civil servants interested in different sporting activities to prepare for the civil service games. The state is eager to reclaim its top place in medals winning starting with the coming civil service games.

“Many years ago, Niger State used to be among the tops when it comes to winning medals in different sporting events, but the name of the state soon disappeared in the ladder table.

” This informed the state to bid to host the next civil service games and it was graciously approved by the Head of Service of the Federation,” he noted.

Abubakar further revealed that the state is also looking at the socio-economic benefits it stands to gain from hosting the one week event.

The sporting events billed for competition by delegates for medals in various categories include football, handball, athletics, squash, karate, judo, scrabble, boxing, badminton, tennis, chess and basketball.