Gov. Fubara ends contract extensions for retired permanent secretaries
Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has put an end to the long-standing practice of extending the contracts of retired permanent secretaries in the state civil service. This decision, announced during the swearing-in ceremony of six new permanent secretaries at Government House in Port Harcourt on Friday, is seen as a significant move to allow fresh talent to ascend within the civil service.
The practice of keeping retired officials on contract has often been criticized for stalling the career progression of lower-level workers and is viewed as a means for politicians to reward loyalists. Governor Fubara emphasized the importance of giving new individuals the opportunity to serve in these roles, urging the newly appointed permanent secretaries to prioritize the interests of the state and warning that any misconduct would result in immediate dismissal.
Among the newly sworn-in permanent secretaries is Mrs. Anthonia Iyaye-Ekise, a seasoned broadcaster who has served as a compere at Government House. Mrs. Iyaye-Ekise began her career with the Rivers State Radio Broadcasting Service shortly after completing secondary school and was recently transferred from Radio Rivers 99.1FM to Government House.
In addition to the swearing-in, the new permanent secretaries were presented with official cars as part of their new roles.
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Governor Fubara also issued a directive mandating that no Information and Communications Technology (ICT) staff within the State Civil Service be promoted without obtaining certification from the Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria (CPN).
This announcement, made during a dinner at Government House for delegates of the 2024 International Conference of the Nigeria Computer Society, is part of his administration’s efforts to eliminate unqualified individuals in the sector and accelerate the integration of technology in the workplace.
The governor highlighted the state’s commitment to ICT, which has already led to significant improvements, including a more than doubling of the state’s internally generated revenue (IGR) and the full automation of the State Civil Service. He assured the delegates of his administration’s full support in ensuring that the NCS is recognised and respected in Rivers State, further emphasizing that all recruitment into the State Civil Service is now conducted online, with other work processes digitized to create a technology-driven economy.
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