Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers on Tuesday swore in 16 new permanent secretaries, urging them to be professional in the discharge of their duties, to ensure effective service delivery.

Mr Fubara gave the advice shortly after the permanent secretaries were sworn in at the Government House in Port Harcourt.

The governor said the permanent secretaries were chosen not because they were lucky but because they were competent in their various ministries.

“Your responsibilities as permanent secretaries are so much, knowing that the state has a lot of ministries not maned by adequate authorities for a while.

“This brought the reason for the government to appoint more permanent secretaries to fill the spaces,” the governor said.

He said the number of newly appointed permanent secretaries would enable all the ministries to have heads pending when they would have political heads.

He urged them to give their best in their ministries so that the government and the good people of the state could feel their best.

The governor urged the permanent secretaries to see their appointments as a call to duty.

“It is not a position that you see as political ground, but you are purely chosen because you have what it takes to man these ministries. Some of you are already manning the ministries,” the governor said.

Mr Fubara also pledged to provide a conducive environment for them to give their best service to the government and the state’s people.

He said, “My administration will focus on the better welfare of Rivers people with thriving security, and you are required to key into his policies to ensure better service delivery.”

Mr Fubara directed the head of the Rivers State Civil Service, George Nwaeke, to hand over official cars to the newly sworn-in permanent secretaries.

The newly appointed permanent secretaries are Hebron Wisdom, Dede Sampson Friday, Briggs Atemea Karibo, Nyempe Gregory, Ndah Emmanuel, Ngochindo James Epobari, Ishmael Tomonialadieokuma, and Wakama Boma A. George.

Others were Nweke Onyeche Kelvin, Okereuku Alwell Chinedum, Ndukue Patrick, Ichemati Maxwell Mbadiwe, Iwarilama-Brown Invingi Sabina, Ogolo Maurice Eric, Kejeh Ruhuoma Chinedu, and Jacob Fayeofori Francis.

(NAN)