The Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, has expressed shock and deep sorrow over the death of the FCT Head of Service, Mrs. Grace Adayilo, describing her passing as a painful and irreparable loss to the administration and the country.
Adayilo, who until her death was the pioneer head of civil service of the FCT, reportedly died in the early hours of Monday, September 1, 2025.
Her death was first confirmed by her media aide, Anthony Odey, but the circumstances surrounding her passing remain unclear as officials of the FCT Administration have yet to release details.
In a statement issued on Monday through her Special Assistant on Media, Austine Elemue, Mahmoud described Adayilo as a distinguished administrator, a seasoned technocrat, and a dedicated servant of the people who left an indelible mark on the public service.
“I received with great shock and deep sadness the news of the sudden passing of the Federal Capital Territory Head of Service, Pst. Mrs. Grace Adayilo,” the minister said.
“This is indeed a painful loss, not only to the entire FCT Administration, but also to the public service and the nation at large.
“The late head of service was a distinguished administrator, a seasoned technocrat, and a dedicated servant of the people who gave her best in the discharge of her duties with utmost professionalism, humility, and commitment.”
Mahmoud further noted that Adayilo’s death came at a time when her wealth of experience was critical to driving reforms in the capital city and in supporting the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.
“Her passing has created a vacuum that will be difficult to fill, especially at this critical time when her wealth of experience and wisdom were most needed to advance the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the FCT,” the statement continued.
Read Also:
- Jonathan mourns Ghanaian Ministers killed in Ashanti Helicopter crash
- Peter Obi mourns former Minister of Petroleum, Duru Chu Okongwu, praises his integrity
- Minister of State for Defence urges stronger regional cooperation for safer Africa
The minister extended condolences to Adayilo’s family, colleagues, and the staff of the FCT Administration.
“On behalf of my family, I extend my heartfelt condolences to her immediate family, colleagues, and the entire staff of the Administration.
“May Almighty God grant her soul eternal rest and give us all the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss. May her memory continue to inspire a life of selfless service and dedication to our dear nation,” Mahmoud said.
Although tributes have poured in since news of Adayilo’s death broke, there has been no official word from the office of the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, under whom she served directly.
Adayilo, a career civil servant, was widely regarded as a pioneer in the FCT Administration, having played a central role in shaping the bureaucracy of the capital city over several decades.
Colleagues remember her as a woman of integrity, humility, and faith, who combined administrative competence with a pastoral touch, being also a devout Christian.
Her death has sparked concerns among some staff members about the future of ongoing reforms within the FCT service structure, especially those targeted at improving efficiency, accountability, and delivery of government services to residents of Abuja.
