10th April, 2012
Mr Uyi Orhue, a former Principal of Western Boys High School, Benin and 17 others were on Tuesday sworn-in as Permanent Secretaries by Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Nigeria’s Edo State.He said at the ceremony in Benin that the new appointees were selected on merit.
“Our campaign against God fathers means that even in the civil service, appointment should not be based on who you know, but what you know.”
He said that Orhue was appointed permanent secretary to “send a clear message to the fact that being in the classroom does not make one less important”.
“You represent a constituency that is central to the development of our state.”
The governor dispelled rumours that disabled workers on wheel chairs would be retired, saying “nobody will be retired”.
He said that one of the new permanent secretaries also has a disability.
“The accident has affected his physical structure, not his brain and it won’t affect his ability to discharge his duties effectively.
“And as you can see, the accident has not stopped us from swearing him in.
“On the contrary we have a lot of vacancies in the service. Civil servants and teachers are assets and not liability.
“They are instruments of growth. We have not carried out any retrenchment and we will not.”
The governor urged the new appointees to be diligent in the discharge of their duties, adding: “you should be firm, just; you must protect government secret.”
Responding on behalf of the new appointees, Dr Hilary Iyoha thanked the governor for finding them worthy to serve the state.
“I affirm that we shall carry out our duties loyally and diligently to the glory of God and the benefit of the state,” he said