Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, has urged public servants to work closely with government in ensuring the smooth implementation of its policies and programmes for the overall wellbeing of the state.
Senator Ewhrudjakpo stated this on Monday when members of the Bayelsa State Permanent Secretaries Forum, led by its chairman, Dr Wisdom Sawyer, paid him a courtesy visit in Government House, Yenagoa.
The deputy governor, in statement by his senior special assistant on Media, Mr Doubara Atasi, acknowledged the critical roles permanent secretaries play in ensuring that the civil service contribute meaningfully to the success of government.
He, therefore, encouraged them to maintain a healthy and harmonious working relationship with their commissioners in the various ministries to enhance efficiency and productivity.
While congratulating the last set of permanent secretaries that were sworn in, Senator Ewhrudjakpo charged them to be diligent and always be at their duty posts.
He equally cautioned them against any unethical behaviour that was inimical to the image of government.
His words: “You are a partial image of government and so all your actions or inactions in your official or unofficial activities will have a spill over effect on government.
“You have only one political head at the helm of affairs in your ministries, which is the commissioner. You should note that there is only one captain in a ship.”
Responding to the concerns raised by the Permanent Secretaries Forum, Senator Ewhrudjakpo, expressed optimism that the governor would fulfill his promise of providing them official cars either in full or in batches depending on the availability of resources.
On the issue of land allocated to permanent secretaries, the deputy governor assured them that he would liaise with the Ministry of Lands and Survey to ascertain the state of the land at Agbura, in Yenagoa Local Government Area of the state.
He however mooted the idea of providing permanent secretaries quarters and promised that government would look into the possibility of applying the owner-occupier concept it adopted for commissioners and legislators in the state.
In his address, chairman of the Bayelsa State Permanent Secretaries Forum, Dr Wisdom Sawyer, expressed appreciation to government for the support extended to permanent secretaries over the years.
He particularly commended the Prosperity Government for periodic appointments of permanent secretaries to fill vacant positions, organising retreats for permanent secretaries and other top government functionaries and financial benefits such as wage award, among others.
Dr. Sawyer also thanked the deputy governor in anticipation of the consequential adjustment in the new national minimum wage as well as highlighted other immediate needs of the forum.
They include, construction of access road to the land allocated to permanent secretaries and civil servants at Agbura and fulfilment of an earlier promise by the governor during last year’s retreat to procure official cars for serving permanent secretaries.
