12th March, 2018
Gov. Umaru Al-Makura of Nasarawa state has said that his administration would not compromise professionalism in the appointment of permanent secretaries in the state.
Al-Makura stated this while inaugurating Mr Stephen Dogo as a permanent secretary at the Government House, Lafia on Monday.
According to him, said although the position of permanent secretary is a political appointment, he considers it a high bureaucratic and professional responsibility.
“I am here as a governor to add value to the bureaucracy and professionalise civil service.
“It is in our collective interest to build a credible and effective bureaucracy, that is why I would not want to bastardise the system by bringing people completely outside the civil service to serve as permanent secretaries.
“As far as I remain the governor of Nasarawa state, I would insist on promoting and getting people within the service to aspire to the position of permanent secretary,” he said.
The governor said he had recently been studying the track record of dedicated civil servants, adding that their loyalty would pay off in due course.
He said there was hope for the state civil servants to aspire for higher positions but urged them to be committed and ensure that their contribution and effectiveness in service was recognized by their superiors for the records.
The governor said such would determine one of the criteria for their upgrade.
Al-Makura said the appointment of Dogo as permanent secretary was aimed at strengthening the machinery of government towars effective and efficient service delivery.
He, therefore, advised the appointee to uphold the virtues of the present administration which he said was anchored on accountability, transparency and probity in the management of public funds.
“You are enjoined to work in synergy with your colleagues and other political appointees as well as your subordinates in the implementation of government policies and programmes.”