The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has sworn in two new Permanent Secretaries, charging them to diligently discharge their duties, ensuring quality and efficient service delivery to the people of the State.

Swearing in the Permanent Secretaries at the Government House, in Benin City, Governor Obaseki noted that expectations from them are high, urging them to be professional in their conduct and stick to the rules and core values of the service.

The newly sworn-in Permanent Secretaries are Queeneth Orobedo and Ojo Akin-Longe.

Others at the event include the Edo State Deputy Governor, Engr. Marvellous Omobayo Godwins; Secretary to the State Government, Joseph Eboigbe, and Head of Service, Dr. Anthony Okungbowa, among others.

While charging on transparency, integrity, and accountability, Obaseki said their appointment was based on merit and capacity to deliver.

He stated, “I congratulate you on your well-deserved appointment in Edo State. I said it's well-deserved because the process of appointing you was diligent and rigorous. Before we appoint Permanent Secretaries to the Edo State Civil and Public Service, they are expected to go through a very competitive evaluation and review of the processes which will entail both oral and written interviews with me.

“The process that left only the two of you had many who started. What I want to emphasize is that the tradition we have established is that people who are appointed as PS are purely based on merit rather than political influence. That is a thing of the past.

“The expectations from you are quite high. You are attaining the position of PS at a time when the civil and public service is going through a major foundational shift with the application of technology into the system and processes of the service.

“The old ways of doing things have to give way. The pace of delivery has to be more efficient and faster. As you know, we have a 48-hour rule which says that no document should be left with you unattended, which means that no document should stay with you beyond 48 hours or else there will be consequences.”

Obaseki continued: “The level of transparency has been improved by technology. You must ensure that you don’t cheat the system but follow the laid down rules. You are supposed to serve the people of the State, not any person or political office holder.

“Your loyalty has to be to the system because you are serving the people of Edo State. We are entering a new era, and we are bringing a lot more younger people into the system as they will be looking up to you for leadership.

“As the culture of doing things has changed, it has to be owned and driven by you and your colleagues. We just started the process of putting up our master plan which means we would have a legislative planning process as people come to serve with a sense of agreed purpose for what we want to achieve as a government. The civil service will make this happen.”

In her response, Orobedo thanked the governor for the confidence reposed on them, pledging that they will diligently and effectively deliver on their duties.