Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has warned that Permanent Secretaries who breached civil service rules and engaged in illegal practices during the six-month emergency rule under Ibas will face sanctions
The governor issued the warning on Friday while swearing in a new Permanent Secretary, Austin Ezekiel-Hart, at the Government House, Port Harcourt.
Fubara said Ezekiel-Hart earned his appointment through professionalism and integrity, urging him to uphold civil service values and shun illegality in the discharge of his duties.
Reflecting on the emergency rule period, the governor expressed disappointment that some senior officials failed to protect due process and instead supported actions that undermined the civil service. He stressed that their records are well documented and would be revisited in due course.
“For those Permanent Secretaries who supported what was not the standard of civil service, your punishment will come. Just be prepared. The records will be there, and at the right time, I’ll bring them up one after the other against you,” Fubara declared.
He maintained that his administration is committed to truth, fairness, and due process, adding that no directive—regardless of its source—should override civil service rules.
Commending the newly sworn-in Permanent Secretary, the governor said Ezekiel-Hart stood firm as a professional and refused to compromise his integrity despite pressures, a quality he said merited his elevation.
Fubara assured that his government would continue to uphold due process and integrity, emphasizing that civil servants must remain the backbone of good governance.
Follow Us on Facebook – @LadunLiadi; Instagram – @LadunLiadi; Twitter – @LadunLiadi; Youtube – @LadunLiadiTV for updates
