In a decisive move to enforce civil service regulations and restore administrative order, Governor Siminalayi Fubara has directed all retired Permanent Secretaries still occupying official positions in Rivers State to immediately prepare their handover notes and vacate their offices.
The directive was issued during the swearing-in ceremony of the new Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr Dagogo Wokoma, and the Chief of Staff, Barrister Sunny Ewule, held at the Government House on Thursday.
Addressing a cross-section of top civil servants, Governor Fubara expressed dissatisfaction with the continued presence of officials who have officially reached their retirement age or years of service. He emphasized that the era of indefinite stays and unauthorised contract extensions has come to an end.
“To those Permanent Secretaries who have retired but are still in office, I am directing you now to prepare your handover notes,” the Governor stated. “The civil service must follow its established rules. We need to allow for natural progression and the rise of new leadership within the system.”
This order is part of a broader reform strategy by the Fubara administration to modernise the state’s workforce. The Governor noted that the remaining period of his tenure must be dedicated to productive work and collective success, which requires a vibrant and legally compliant civil service.
Key elements of this reform include:
Career Progression: Clearing the “bottleneck” at the top to allow junior officers to ascend. Professional Standards: Reaffirming that appointments and tenure are based on merit and statutory regulations. Handover Accountability: Ensuring all state properties and ongoing projects are properly documented before the departure of outgoing officials.
While the focus remained on the civil service exit, the Governor reminded the newly sworn-in SSG and Chief of Staff that they must serve as examples of this new professional standard. He warned that any official whether political or career-based who acts in a way that embarrasses the government or flouts established procedures would face immediate consequences.
The Governor concluded by noting that he would be “closely monitoring” the handover process to ensure that no retired official remains in post beyond the stipulated timeframe, thereby ensuring a seamless transition for the newly appointed Permanent Secretaries recently integrated into the service.
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