Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo, has sworn-in 14 new Permanent Secretaries for the state civil service, urging them to be transparent in the discharge of their duties.
Obaseki, while addressing the permanent secretaries comprising nine males and five females in Benin on Tuesday said they would be held responsible for corrupt practices even after leaving office.
The governor urged them to be digitally compliant as the State Government plans to switch over from analog to e-governance on Feb. 1.
“You are the chief accounting officers of your ministries, the fact that you are in government for a while does not mean that your activities while in government will not be looked into.
”Hence you have to be very, very cautious of the decision you make. Most Nigerians don’t know that even after you retire, you are still liable and culpable for your activities during your time in office.
“I am pleased to Inform you that we will continue to work on our systems so that you can deliver effectively to our people.
“We continue to build on human capacity, we will continue to train and retrain our civil and public servants, we are also equipping and investing on the John Odigie Oyegun Public Service Academy to make it second to none in this part of the world,” he said.
He added: “Effective from Feb. 1, I the governor, will switch over to e-governance platform, which effectively means that I will now approve memos and send e-mails to you vial the e-platform,” he said.
Obaseki stressed that his administration was working to restore the past glories of the civil and public service.
He said the permanent secretaries were appointed based on merits and advised them not to seek popularity as they were not politicians.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the permanent secretaries included Mr Anelu Osemen, Mrs Felicia Edwards, Mrs Grace Aihie, Mr Egwakhide Gilbert, Mr Iserhienrhien Efe, and Mr Aikhuomobhogbe Uidia.
Others were Mr Toritseju Onaiwu, Mrs Ifueko Alufokhai, Mr Osikhena Ojior and Mrs Barbara Osobajo. Mr Asibor Lucky, Mrs Igbinobaro Joy, Mr Washington Abbe and Mr Asemota Uyi.
Speaking on behalf of the permanent secretaries, Mr Anelu Osemen, said that their task was to work for the progress of the state.
