ABIA: Permanent Secretaries To Act As Commissioners Pending New Appointments - Gov. Otti

Otti while holding his first meeting as governor with the Permanent Secretaries on Tuesday, at the Michael Okpara Auditorium, described the Permanent Secretaries as the engine room of government, noting that they are expected to show transparency in the discharge of their official duties.

The governor warned the Permanent Secretaries against undermining the new government because of their different political affiliations, adding that "we will not waste time to act because this is a government that must work and anything that stands in the way, we will get it out."

In the governor's words;

"I want to congratulate all of us for the transitioning to a new administration. Every four years, election happen and winners get sworn in. In most places, those who lost become opposition. So, being that we're all winners, I believe that we won't have opposition. But just in case there's opposition, it is also part of governance and democracy.

"We welcome opposition. Constructive engagement is also welcomed. Disagreeing with us is part of the business. You can never know it all. If you have an opinion feel free to express it.

"I must tell you that you're the engine room of the government and that's why I thought that the first meeting that I will hold will be with all of you.

"I do know that a lot of you would have different political persuasions and alliances and allegiance, that is not a problem. But what will be the problem is if you begin to undermine the government that you serve and when we notice that, we will not waste time to act because this is a government that must work and anything that stands in the way, we will get it out.

"We will not witch-hunt people and we will not deal with people because of their persuasions, whether it is ethnic, religious and all that. At the end of the day, it is the interest of the state that is paramount."

"You will begin to function as commissioners until new commissioners are appointed. I'm sure you understand what I'm saying, that is, that government is a continuum. So ensure you take over and begin to run your different ministries and by the time new commissioners come, you will handover to them.

"I believe some of you were there yesterday when I made my inauguration speech. Everything that I said there, I mean them from A-Z. So things will begin to change.

"This is a familiarisation meeting, where I will listen to you and get to understand what you do; get to understand how you do it and any help or support you require".

The permanent secretaries, who were led by the Head of Service of the state, Sir Onyii Nwama, to the meeting attended by the Deputy Governor of the State, Engr Ikechukwu Emetu, and some team members of the new government, congratulated Dr. Otti on his inauguration and successful assumption of office.