The Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, has sworn in eight newly appointed Permanent Secretaries.

Naijaonpoint reports that the swearing-in ceremony was held at the Executive Chambers of the Government House in Port Harcourt, the state capital.

Speaking during their swearing-in on Thursday, Ibas urged the appointees to champion accountability, innovation, and ethical leadership in their respective ministries.

He described their appointments as “strategic and timely,” coming at a period when the state’s civil service is experiencing a vacuum created by the retirement of seasoned officers.

“Your emergence is critical at this time. You must promote peace through good governance by ensuring efficient service delivery,” Ibas stated.

Ibas emphasised that public office must go beyond ceremonial duties and translate into measurable outcomes for citizens.

“Your work must translate into tangible impacts that improve the daily lives of our citizens, moving beyond mere activity to measurable outcomes,” he said.

The Sole Administrator urged the Permanent Secretaries to take up the mantle of policy implementation, drive reform, and act as catalysts of transformation in their respective domains.

Sounding a clear warning, the Rivers administrator stressed that fiscal discipline and transparency were non-negotiable, stating that every naira spent must be properly accounted for.

“Government must function as one cohesive system working toward shared goals. You must ensure prudent use of public funds; every naira allocated must be accounted for. Be deliberate, transparent, and accountable in all financial matters,” Ibas warned.

He encouraged them to embrace digital transformation, enhance coordination across ministries, and challenge outdated bureaucratic processes to achieve excellence.

Calling for a civil service anchored on integrity, Ibas tasked the new appointees to rebuild public confidence through ethical leadership and result-oriented administration.

“You must help restore public trust in the civil service by rejecting corruption, inefficiency, and mediocrity. Set high standards and deliver on them,” he said.

The eight newly sworn-in Permanent Secretaries include: