12th July, 2011
The seven new commissioners sworn-in recently by Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi have been assigned portfolios.
A statement from the office of the Secretary to the State Government, Mr George Feyii, said the four returnee commissioners retained their former portfolios.
They include Mrs Ibim Semenitari, Information and Communications, Alice Lawrence Nemi, Education, while Patricia Simon-Hart and Mr Augustine Wokocha returned to their former offices as commissioner for Water Resources, and Power respectively.
The new commissioners are Chief Victor Giadom who takes over the Ministry of Works, Mr Chamberlain Peterside who steps into the Finance Ministry, while Mr Nyema Weli is assigned to the Ministry of Environment.
The statement from the office of the Secretary to State Government directed the Commissioners to resume duties in their various ministries immediately.
Meanwhile, four boards of parastatals and agencies of government in Rivers State were inaugurated by Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi at the Executive Council chambers of Government House, Port Harcourt on Monday. Members of the boards were charged to rescue the government agencies from decay.
A total of 34 persons were inaugurated. The boards are Local Government Service Commission with former Mayor of Port Harcourt City, Azubuike Nmerukini as Chairman, Board of Trustees of Social Services Contributory Trust Fund, which is headed by former Director General of NTA, Pastor Shyngle Wigwe, Primary Health Management Board with Dr Uriah Etawo, former Medical Director of UPTH as Chairman, while Post Primary Schools Board is headed by a former Commissioner of Education and Sports, Alwell Onyesoh.
Speaking while inaugurating the boards, Governor Amaechi charged the chairmen and members of the various boards to “rescue the system†from rot and decay as government remains committed to improving the wellbeing of its citizenry and urged them to discharge their duties creditably.
He admitted that the task before the boards were enormous, pointing out that government decided to appoint technocrats and professionals more than politicians on the boards so as to bring confidence and trust to bear on their services to the state.
“If you function property, believe me, I will not leave my office, but would now sit down and do my work,†Governor Amaechi asserted, adding, “we expect that things will begin to change for the better from today.†On the constitution of the Social Services Contributory Trust Fund, Governor Amaechi said government would release funds to it to fund the Primary Schools and Secondary Schools as well as the Primary Healthcare system, contending that if the Social Services Contributory Trust Funds fails, it may have adverse effect on the management of primary and secondary education, as well as primary healthcare delivery.
He advised the management of health centres in the rural areas to carry out enlightenment programmes to encourage patients to use the new health centres rather than consult native doctors, and assured all the boards of adequate funding.
He opined that efficient management of government agencies is strategic to the overall development of the state, and congratulated the chairmen and members of the boards on their appointment.
Responding on behalf Chairmen and members of the inaugurated boards, the former Director General of NTA and Chairman of Social Services Contributory Trust Fund, Pastor Shyngle Wigwe thanked the governor for giving them the opportunity to serve the state and promised to justify the confidence reposed in them.
—Okafor Ofiebor/ Port Harcourt