400 Directors Scramble For Perm Sec Seats In Rivers

About 400 persons are to write qualifying examination for appointment as substantive directors to the position of Permanent Secretaries in the Rivers State  Public Service scheduled to hold on June 7, 2013.

This was disclosed by the Head of Service, Barr Samuel LongJohn while declaring open a two-day refresher course for substantive directors in the state public service held at the main bowl of the Alfred Diete Spiff Civic Centre, Port Harcourt

Barrister LongJohn said the refresher course, which was preparatory for the qualifying examination, was organised to acquaint them of what to expect at the examination in view of their diverse professions.

He said the policy of conducting qualifying examination was in line with the adoption of a Federal Government policy to ensure credibility and transparency in the appointment of Permanent Secretaries as well as get the best from available manpower in the service considering the vital role played by the civil service in the implementation of policies and programmes of government.

The Head of Service explained that participation at the workshop was restricted to substantive Directors who had been on that position for five years and more in order to adhere to hierarchy and to accommodate a manageable number in view of the large number of directors in the service.

He expressed gratitude to the facilitators and resource persons for making the workshop possible in spite of the short notice, and advised participants to take the course seriously and make adequate preparations for the examination.

Earlier, Permanent Secretary, Service Welfare in the Office of the Head of Service, Mr. Lambert Ekwueme thanked the Head of Service for organising the Refresher Course which would go a long way in preparing the directors for the examinations as well as enhance their service delivery capacity.

Also speaking, Chairman of the Directors Forum, Chief Jonathan Gunn commended the Head of Service for his contributions to the suspension of the tenure policy for directors and Permanent Secretaries, and appealed for speedy implementation of Grade Level 17 for Directors in the state public service.

Papers presented at the workshop include Public Service Rules by Elder Mike Whetode, Financial Regulations by Dr. George Nwaeke and Rivers State Policy Trust by Mr. A. C. O. Amakiri.