GOV OTTI SWEARS IN 10 PERMANENT SECRETARIES, CHARGES THEM ON INTEGRITY, COMPETENCE
By Ezechukwu Adimoha
The Governor, Dr Alex Otti, has sworn-in 10 newly appointed Permanent Secretaries into the state civil service with a charge for them to make competence, integrity and commitment to service their watch word.
Governor Otti while swearing in the new permanent secretaries at the Michael Okpara Auditorium Umuahia said his administration has since assumption of office in 2023, prioritised merit, competence and transparency in appointments, stressing that political considerations, state of origin and local government of origin have no place in determining the appointment of people into public office.
The state Chief Executive said about 58,000 applicants initially applied for the selection exercise, while only candidates who demonstrated the required competence and qualifications progressed through the various stages involving computer- based tests and oral interviews.
Governor Otti maintained that his administration is committed to ensuring that only qualified individuals are appointed to positions of responsibility, adding that his government would continue to uphold merit as a fundamental principle of public service.
The Governor while urging the new permanent secretaries to see their appointments as opportunities to serve the people and contribute meaningfully to the development of the state, also enjoined them to justify the confidence reposed in them as their conduct and performance would determine how well they distinguished themselves in office.
Governor Otti who also highlighted the strong representation of women among the new appointees, noting that seven out of the 10 Permanent Secretaries were women, representing 70 per cent , attributing the development to his administration’s commitment to merit-based selection, arguing that women had demonstrated their competence and ability to excel when given equal opportunities.
Governor Otti who equally performed the inauguration of 3 new appointees including the Mr Godwin Adindu as the GM Abia State Signage and Advertisement Agency ABSAA, Ms Sandra Ivonye -Ntofon as the MD /CEO Abia Innovation and Industrial Park and Mr Emenike Onyembi as Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on National Assembly matters, urged them to distinguish themselves through dedication and professionalism.
Speaking on behalf of the newly sworn in permanent secretaries,Mrs Uwaoma Ajike thanked Governor Otti for finding them fit to be part of his transformation agenda, and pledged to uphold the principles of excellence, accountability, transparency and selfless service in the discharge of their duties.
The Chief Judge of the state Justice Lilian Abai, principal officers and other members of the 8th House of Assembly, members of the state executive council and other distinguished Nigerians attended the ceremony.
