Dickson Warns Politicians, Says I’ll Reform Civil Service for Effective Performance

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines, News Across Nigeria, News From The State Tuesday, June 28th, 2016

BALTIMORE, MD (AFRICAN EXAMINER) – The Bayelsa State governor, Henry Seriake Dickson, has reaffirmed his commitment to carrying out effective reforms in the civil service to make it more result oriented and respectable.

He, therefore, advised politicians to leave civil servants out of politics, while also calling on the civil servants not to allow themselves to be used by politicians in the furtherance of their political ambitions.

A statement issued on Tuesday by the State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Jonathan Obuebite, said these were part of Dickson’s charge to Permanent Secretaries, Directors and Heads of Departments of various ministries, departments and agencies during a meeting in Yenagoa.

The Governor, who commended the top hierarchy of the civil service for supporting the ongoing reforms in the service, said, whatever the government was doing, was purely to properly reposition the service to function effectively, in line with best practices.

The permanent secretaries, Directors and Heads of departments were unanimous in their support for the ongoing reforms in the service.

Obuebite said it will go a long way in enthroning an civil service that would be apolitical, disciplined and focused.

While commending Governor Dickson for adhering to the age long order of seniority and succession in the civil service, against what prevailed in the recent past, they declared their total support for the 6-month extension of the tenure of the Head of Service, Dr. Peter Singabele.

They also expressed confidence in the ability of Singabele to ensure the proper implementation of the new reforms for which his tenure was extended.

They also used the opportunity to express their appreciation to the countryman Governor for his prudence and sound management of the finances of the State, in the face of dwindling resources, as exemplified by the monthly transparency briefings of the Government, which has made it possible for them to have access to the accounts of the State.

The statement also commended the State Government for carrying the entire civil service along in the scheme of things, especially in its reforms and the state of the finances of the Bayelsa State, which has become a model in the country.