Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to improving the welfare and professional development of civil servants, describing the public service as the engine room of effective governance and national development.
Fubara gave the assurance on Thursday at a state banquet held in honour of delegates attending the 48th National Council on Establishments at the Government House, Port Harcourt.
Represented by the Deputy Governor, Prof. Ngozi Nma Odu, the governor said his administration would continue to prioritise policies that strengthen the Civil Service, noting that its role remains indispensable to sustainable development.
He said Rivers was honoured to host the national gathering, adding that the event was particularly significant as it was expected to be the final National Council on Establishments to be presided over by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, before the end of her tenure.
Paying tribute to Walson-Jack, Fubara described her as an accomplished administrator whose visionary leadership and reforms have made lasting contributions to Nigeria’s public service.
“We are proud of you as our daughter and as a Nigerian woman. Your innovative ideas, aligned with the Renewed Hope Agenda, will leave an enduring legacy for the nation’s Civil Service,” he said.
The governor also said the successful hosting of the council underscored Rivers State’s peaceful and secure environment, dismissing perceptions that could discourage national events in the state.
Drawing from his experience as a former Permanent Secretary and Accountant-General of Rivers State, Fubara said he understood the challenges confronting civil servants. He noted that his Deputy, Prof. Odu, also rose through the Civil Service as a Permanent Secretary, giving the administration a unique appreciation of the needs of public servants.
He described the Civil Service as the largest employer of labour and the backbone of government, stressing that no nation could achieve sustainable development without a motivated, efficient and professional workforce.
The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, commended Governor Fubara for his unwavering commitment to the welfare of civil servants and for creating an enabling environment for the successful hosting of the council.
She said the governor’s support reflected his recognition of the Civil Service as a critical institution for good governance and thanked the Rivers State Government for its hospitality throughout the week-long event.
Walson-Jack also praised the Rivers State Head of Service, Dr. Mrs. Inyingi Brown, for her effective coordination of Heads of Service and Permanent Secretaries from across the federation, which contributed to the success of the council.
In her remarks, Brown expressed appreciation to Governor Fubara for his support and visionary leadership, describing the banquet as a fitting conclusion to a productive week of policy discussions.
She said the technical sessions of the council provided valuable opportunities for the exchange of ideas and best practices that would enhance policy formulation, institutional efficiency and public service delivery across the country.
