Era Of Lobbying For Permanent Secretary Position In Nasarawa Is Over – Gov Sule

BY AHMED TUKUR, LAFIA – Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State has said that the era of lobbying for appointment as Permanent Secretary is over.

The Governor said that only performing directors will be appointed as Permanent Secretaries in the State civil service.

Speaking during the flag off of a two-day workshop for directors in the state, Sule also harped on the need for political appointees and permanent secretaries to imbibe the spirit of togetherness by making sure that directors are giving the chance to perform their responsibilities.

Forefront had earlier reported how 98 directors are jostling for 16 permanent secretary positions expected to be vacant in the next few months.

The two-day workshop with the theme: “The role of civil servants in sustainable growth and development of Nasarawa State,” is expected to reinvigorate the civil service for improved service delivery.

Sule said that the training session will afford an opportunity to study emerging challenges associated with current trends of doing government business.

The Governor said; “I am happy the Commissioners and Permanent Secretaries are also here. The Directors cannot perform if the Commissioners and the Permanent Secretaries continue to take away the responsibilities of the Directors.

“I want to urge my colleagues, the Commissioners to allow the Permanent Secretaries to do their jobs and the permanent secretaries to allow the directors to do their jobs”.

“Only performance will be the benchmark for the appointment of a director as permanent secretary”.

Sule charged participants at the training to participate actively in order to tap from the resource persons’ wealth of experience.

In his remarks, the State Head of Civil Service, Abari Nicholas Aboki, commended the Governor for keeping with his campaign promise to revive, reposition and sustain the development of the state civil service through capacity building.

Earlier, one of the resource persons, Professor Mohammed Isa Kida, said given the significance of directors in achieving government aims, it has become imperative to engage them strategically.

Kida said the workshop which will brainstorm on topical issues concerning the roles of the director, will witness nine papers presentation by seasoned academics and administrators.