Briga News Nigeria
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has revealed that his administration inherited a “near dead” civil service, lacking in promotions and human capacity development for over 11 years. The governor made this disclosure while receiving the Head of Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, during a courtesy visit to the Government House, Port Harcourt.
Governor Fubara explained that upon assuming office, one of the immediate actions taken by his administration was to initiate the promotion of civil servants, many of whom had been stagnated for over a decade. He also outlined plans to engage consultants to retrain civil servants to align with contemporary service delivery standards, aimed at enhancing efficiency and effectiveness in governance.
“When we came on board, we inherited a near-dead civil service. For 11 years, there was no promotion,” Fubara stated, emphasizing that retraining was essential for restoring the civil service’s capacity to function optimally.
The governor further praised Mrs. Walson-Jack, a Rivers State native, for her exemplary career and her current role as the Head of Civil Service of the Federation. He assured her of the state’s support and commitment to collaborating with her office to advance the state’s civil service.
Mrs. Walson-Jack commended Governor Fubara’s dedication to civil service reform, expressing optimism about their ability to work together to promote transparency, accountability, and capacity-building. She also affirmed her commitment to ensuring that Rivers State’s interests are represented at the federal level.
In a related development, Rivers State is set to host the 2024 edition of the Federal Public Service Games, which is expected to further solidify its status as a hub for national events.
Governor Fubara reiterated his administration’s determination to restore the glory of the civil service and implement reforms aimed at fostering a more robust and efficient workforce. The partnership between the state and federal civil services is expected to play a significant role in achieving these goals.
