Thursday 6 June 2013

Governor Akpabio appoints 10 new permanent secretaries

Governor Godswill Akpabio

Governor Godswill Akpabio has tasked Akwa Ibom Civil Service Commission to evenly recruit officers into the civil service to avoid overloading some local government areas with staff to facilitate in the appointment of new permanent secretaries.

Chief Akpabio who stated this Wednesday after swearing into office 10 new permanent secretaries at the new Governor's Office, Uyo, decried a situation where some local government areas in the state could have more than 10 qualified persons to be appointed as permanent secretaries, others do not have even one qualified person.

''We had a problem in some local government areas because we could not find person in the civil service at the rank of a Director to be appointed as a permanent secretary. So, we had to go to State Secondary Education Board, Local Government Service Commission and the State Universal Education Board to look for very senior staff to appoint into the position to ensure fairness, justice and equity'', he explained.



The Governor charged ''I want the state civil service commission to evenly spread recruitment of persons from all the local government areas into the state civil service to avoid overloading some areas with more staff. I want you to encourage Akwa Ibom people to show interest by joining the civil service because government has to be an inclusive thing''.

Akpabio, however, noted ''Let me pay special tribute to the retired Permanent Secretaries whose replacements we have just sworn in. That you rose to the peak of your career in the ccivil service attest to your diligence, hard work and love for your State. Let me proclaim here that the wheels of Uncommon Transformation revolved around you. And so when you look around and see the many changes that now adorn the state, find fulfillment in the fact that you were a part of it. In fact, thumb your chest and say “I did it.

''I perform today’s function with mixed feelings. Sad that some of our dependable Permanent Secretaries, whose untiring toils oiled the wheels of our Uncommon Transformation have retired. But happy that we have a pool of competent manpower to facilitate replacement and avert a vacuum. The passage of time is a reality of existence and it impels the old to give way to the new. As living creatures, we are all victims of time. This is why there is a time to join the civil service and a time to retire'', the Governor said.

''Let me congratulate the new permanent secretaries that have just been sworn in. The position of permanent secretary is the apex of the civil service career. It is a high office that comes with huge responsibilities. It requires the occupant to be discerning and armed with discretion as he/she is the accounting officer of the ministry, parastatal or agency. The work of the permanent secretary is therefore not a tea party. It is a serious and demanding engagement especially in this period of our unbridled commitment to transform the sstate. As a familiar saying notes, “to whom much is given, much is expected”, Akpabio charged.

According to him, ''I have no shred of doubt about your competences. As career civil servants, who have undergone rudimentary orientation over the years, your grasp of the dynamics of the civil service shall be of great benefits and value to this Administration. As you are aware, the administration has set for itself the ambitious agenda of changing the State from a pedestrian status to that of compelling destination. The quantum of conferences, seminars and workshops that have been held in the State in recent times serve as evidence that we are almost there. But we cannot rest on our oars. We must continue to work to translate this dream into robust reality. That is why we have brought you on board to fill the gap of those that have retired. We have done this so that the work can go on unhindered. We have done this so that the development revolution in our State would continue uninterrupted.

''Your appointments as permanent secretaries at this phase of the history of our State should be viewed as a beckoning opportunity for you to be part of a legacy that would outlive us while continuing to serve as a benchmark in good governance. You must therefore urgently internalise our work ethics of dispatch, prudence and total commitment to service delivery. These are the key values that have distinguished us and given this administration distinction.

''Let me once again congratulate all of you for working hard to merit these appointments. I charge you to see your new office as opportunity to rededicate yourselves to the service of the State and humanity'', he added.

Those sworn in included Dr. Ifreke Ekpa, immediate past Head of Essien Udim Local Government Service; Dr. Idio Okure Akpabio, former Medical Superintendent, Hospital Management Board; Elder Ephraim Jimmy Oton, former Deputy Director, State Secondary Education Board; Marcus Edwin Enene, former Principal-General, QIC Senior Science College, Ndon Eyo; Mr. Israel Samuel Udofa, former Director, Computer Service, Local Government Service Commission.

Others were Dr. Ekong Jimmy Effiong, former Director of Education, State Technical Secondary Board; Mrs. Eno David Sampson, former Director of Administration, Ministry of Finance; Offiong E. Eduongo, former acting Director of Accounts, Office of the Accountant-General; Nkereuwem H. Enyenihi, former Director of Administration, Offfice of the Head of Civil Service while Effiong Charles Udo, immediate past Secretary, Agricultural Loans Board is to serve as acting Permanent Secretary.

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