Okowa tasks new Perm. Secs. on call to service

Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta on Monday tasked the nine newly sworn-in Permanent Secretaries in the state to see their appointments as a call to service.

Okowa who gave the charge during the swearing ceremony in Asaba said that public service should be held on trust by those in authority in order to ensure development for the people.

He said, “you must see this appointment as a call to service and in line with the government’s agenda to develop the state.

“You must cultivate a cordial working relationship with the lower and middle management staff and involve them to enable them to understand and carry on with government policies and programmes.’’

He commended the permanent secretaries, saying that their appointments were based on vacancy, merit, competence, geographical spread and gender balancing.

Okowa said that the appointments were also a demonstration of his administration’s commitment to strengthening the state civil service.

The governor urged them to justify the confidence reposed in them by the people.

The permanent secretaries are Mr Fred Edafioghor, Mr S.E. Dietake, Mr F.N Anuku, Mr U.M. Aloba, Mr L.O. Kekema, Mrs A. Arthur-Prest Umukoro, Mr C.N. Akpatiakwachukwu, Mrs G.A Puegeren and Dr A.I. Pemu.

Responding on behalf of his colleagues, Edafioghor pledged their determination to sustain the developmental agenda of the Okowa-led administration and strengthen the state civil service

He thanked God for the opportunity given them to serve as well as the governor for the recognition and appointment.