Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has sworn in 24 permanent secretaries with a charge to discharge their duties professionally.

Speaking during the ceremony on Tuesday at the Government House in Umuahia, Mr Otti said the present administration was interested in working with people who would offer progressive contributions.

The governor said that under his watch, the government would always ensure that competence and character precede place of origin or religion.

Mr Otti urged the newly sworn-in permanent secretaries to strive to improve themselves in skills and knowledge to add value to the system.

He said the government was determined to digitalise the operations of the state civil service and encouraged the new permanent secretaries to work with all critical stakeholders to make it a success.

“In the next 24 months, we shall fully migrate to digital platforms for processing and storing official data, retrieving and transferring them securely from place to place as may be needed.

“When the new system becomes fully operational, individuals and businesses will no longer need to travel to Umuahia or even any local government headquarters to submit files and process payments.

“They can make a complaint from the comfort of their home, from any part of the world, or at any time of the day,” Mr Otti said.

He said 320 persons applied for the post of permanent secretary, while 24 emerged successful for the job.

Mr Otti urged the permanent secretaries not to engage in corruption and hoped they would live up to their oath of office and allegiance.

Responding on behalf of the new permanent secretaries, Ngozi Obioma thanked the governor for appointing them as his first set of permanent secretaries.

Ms Obioma assured him that they would work in line with the civil service reform agenda of the present administration and promised to justify the confidence reposed in them.

The newly sworn-in permanent secretaries include Joy Maduka, Paul Ogwubunka, Uche Ukeje, Okezie Chukwudike, Justine Ebo, Ogechukwu Maduka, Izuchukwu Onwughara, Agatha Obi-Chianakwalam, Ifeyinwa Uma-Kalu, Ogechi Oguama, Ijeoma Dim, Nwanyieze Otum, Ugonma Jimonu, Benson Ojeikere, Uchechukwu Kalu, Ikechukwu Oriuwa, Ijeoma Aguwa, Florence Nwogu, Magdalene Onwu, Ezinne Ngwakwe, Cyril Nwaigwe, Ugochukwu Elefue, and Onwuegbu Nlewedim.

(NAN)