Don’t lobby for permanent secretary positions – Government warns

The Ebonyi State Government has warned individuals currently lobbying for permanent secretary positions in the state’s civil service, to desist from the act as government was taking its time to fill the vacancies.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Gov. Dave Umahi a fortnight ago compulsorily retired all permanent secretaries, except the Clerk of the State House of Assembly, Mrs Rose Nwokporo.

Sen. Emmanuel Onwe, Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, gave the warning on Friday while briefing newsmen on the outcome of the State Executive Council (EXCO) meeting.

Onwe said that the concerned individuals had been lobbying for the positions directly and indirectly to the discontentment of the state government.

"These people should be aware that the governor is not in a hurry to replace the retired permanent secretaries and when eventually it comes, it would be on merit.

"They should give the governor, his deputy and other top government officials, the needed peace and respite instead of the barrage of disturbances in form of lobbying.

"They are therefore warned to desist from this act to enable government functionaries concentrate on their task of effectively piloting the state’s affairs,” he said.

Onwe also said that the government has terminated the contract awarded for electrification works at the Federal Teaching Hospital (FETHA) Abakaliki.

"The contract which costs N29 million was terminated for non-speedy execution and non-compliance with stipulated contract terms.

"The Commissioner for Power was therefore directed to ‘take over’ the contract, complete it and make it ready for commissioning by the governor,” he said.

The commissioner said that the government would cease to honour all private and group engagements such as burials, weddings among others, fixed for Fridays.

"The government will henceforth not honour any of such engagements because Friday is a working day.

"The government is desirous to speedily develop the state and will not forfeit any working day for private or group engagements,” he said.

He also said that the government has banned the burning of tyres and cables, as anybody engaged in this act would be arrested and prosecuted.

"Anybody interested in cable business should get authority from commissioner for power, as we want to check cable theft in the state.

"Cable vandalism has taken the pipeline dimension, as the vandals melt the plastic which cover the cables and use it to produce other products.

"A suspected cable vandal was brought to the EXCO by security officials, as it signals the process of his prosecution and possible imprisonment to serve as a deterrent to others,” he said.