Dare Babalola
Governor Sheriff Oborevwori on Wednesday presided over the swearing-in of eleven new Permanent Secretaries in the Delta State Civil Service, saying their appointments were made to fill vacancies created by the retirement of senior officers from various local government areas.
The governor disclosed this in a statement following the ceremony, where he reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthening the state civil service through merit-based appointments and institutional reforms.
According to him, the newly appointed Permanent Secretaries were selected from a pool of qualified and competent officers, with the final choices guided by existing vacancies in their respective local government areas, seniority, and merit.
“Today, I presided over the swearing-in of eleven Permanent Secretaries in the Delta State Civil Service. Their appointments became necessary to fill vacancies created by the retirement of Permanent Secretaries from some local government areas,” the governor said.
He added, “The selection of these officers from a pool of equally competent and capable hands was, therefore, based on vacancies in the respective LGAs, seniority, and merit.”
The officers sworn in are Dr Yinkore A. Paul, Dr Okwunze A. Chukwuemeka, Amadubogha Peters, Nkenchor O. Onyeisi, Akambe O. Henry, Engr. Aghagba Solomon, Ogbugo Victor Chike, Ighoyota M. Rocky, Itawansa Augustine A., Onobraekpeyan O. Edwin, and Nkemachor Lucky.
At the event, Governor Oborevwori also announced a new policy concerning succession in the office of the Head of Service, aimed at ensuring smoother transitions and better administrative continuity within the state’s public service.
He stated that going forward, any officer who would succeed a serving Head of Service must have spent a minimum of six months in office as a Permanent Secretary.
The governor explained that the policy was designed to allow prospective Heads of Service gain adequate exposure to the workings of the office and understand the procedures involved in managing the careers of public officers.
“At the ceremony, I also announced a new policy that, henceforth, whoever succeeds a serving Head of Service must spend a minimum of six months in that office as a Permanent Secretary to understudy the processes and procedures involved in the management of the careers of public officers,” he said.
Congratulating the newly sworn-in officials, the governor expressed confidence in their capacity to justify the confidence reposed in them and contribute meaningfully to governance in the state.
“Congratulations to the new Permanent Secretaries. I wish you all a successful and impactful tenure,” he added.
