Rivers Deputy Governor, Odu tasks Perm Secs on driving government transformation

Rivers State Deputy Governor, Prof. Ngozi Odu, has challenged Permanent Secretaries in the state public service to take a more active role in driving government reforms and development, rather than limiting their responsibilities to routine administrative processes.

Odu gave the charge while declaring open a three-day reorientation and capacity-building programme for Permanent Secretaries in the Rivers State Public Service.

She said effective public administration requires officials at the top levels of the civil service to provide strategic leadership, improve efficiency and ensure that government policies translate into tangible results for residents.

The Deputy Governor also urged the participants to take the training seriously and apply the knowledge and skills gained to their respective ministries, departments and agencies.

She commended Governor Siminalayi Fubara for what she described as his “commitment to strengthening the state public service”, adding that continuous capacity development would promote professionalism and improve service delivery.

Odu further announced that the Permanent Secretaries would be inducted into the Chartered Institute of Directors of Nigeria, CIoD, following the training.

She described the induction as an opportunity for the participants to expand their professional networks and gain exposure to contemporary leadership practices.

The Rivers State Head of Service, Dr. Inyingi Brown, also emphasised the importance of continuous training in improving efficiency across the public service.

Brown said the programme, organised in partnership with the Chartered Institute of Directors of Nigeria, is designed to “reposition Permanent Secretaries as strategic leaders capable of promoting innovation and effectively implementing government policies.”