The Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), has approved the complete rehabilitation and modernisation of the Rivers State Secretariat Complex, just days before the expiration of his six-month tenure.

Ibas, whose emergency rule in the state ends on Thursday, September 18, 2025, announced on Wednesday during the 2025 Civil Service Week Gala and Awards Ceremony held at Government House, Port Harcourt.

According to his Senior Special Adviser on Media, Hector Igbikiowubo, the project is aimed at transforming the state secretariat into “a modern, efficient, and conducive work environment for civil servants, the backbone of the state’s governance.”

In addition, the administrator approved the construction of 106 housing units for civil servants as part of welfare reforms.

“These interventions are designed not only to recognise your service but also to improve your welfare in tangible and lasting ways. We must build an administration that is efficient, effective, and truly citizen-centric,” Ibas said.

He paid glowing tribute to retired Heads of Service and Permanent Secretaries, describing them as “the bedrock of the state’s administration,” and urged serving officers to emulate their sacrifice and resilience.

Ibas emphasised the need for innovation and continuous training, charging civil servants to embrace technology to build a system fit for the future.

In her welcome address, Acting Head of Service, Dr Inyingi Brown, described the civil service as the “engine room of government” and thanked Ibas for his support.

“A society that does not honour its heroes is not worthy of emulation,” she said, pledging to build on the legacy of discipline and loyalty established by retirees and projecting that the service would become a model of efficiency and transparency by 2030.

Speaking for the retirees, President of the Association of Retired Permanent Secretaries, Sir Promise Njowhor, said the recognition was “historic.”

“For once, since the creation of the state, we are being honoured. Our morale has been lifted,” he said, pledging the association’s support for government programmes.

The event climaxed with the Most Civil Service Friendly Award presented to Ibas by the Forum of Permanent Secretaries, in recognition of his promotion of civil servants’ welfare.

Vice Admiral Ibas was appointed Sole Administrator on March 18, 2025, following President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a six-month emergency rule in Rivers State, which suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and all members of the House of Assembly.

Tinubu cited the protracted political crisis between Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, as justification for the extraordinary measure.