Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State has warned permanent secretaries who fell short of civil service standards during the period of emergency rule in the state, cautioning that they would be held accountable for their actions.
Fubara issued the warning at the swearing-in of Austin Ezekiel-Hart as a permanent secretary at the Executive Chambers of Government House in Port Harcourt.
The governor explained that Ezekiel-Hart’s elevation was strictly on merit, recognising his professionalism in the state civil service.
According to him, at no time had he instructed any permanent secretary to sidestep due process, urging the new appointee to uphold the values and principles that earned him the promotion.
He further challenged Ezekiel-Hart to speak out with proof if ever pressured to act in violation of civil service rules, assuring that his administration would be defined more by actions than rhetoric.
News reportedthat the ceremony was attended by permanent secretaries, the State Head of Service, and eight commissioners who were retained after the recent dissolution of the State Executive Council following the Supreme Court judgment that affected several appointees.