Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State has warned the newly sworn-in government officials against unauthorised late night meetings or any conduct capable of embarrassing the state government.
Fubara made the remark shortly after the inauguration of the new Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr. Dagogo Wokoma, and Chief of Staff (CoS), Sunny Ewule.
At the inauguration in Port Harcourt on Thursday, the governor said such behaviour would attract immediate dismissal.
Earlier, the oath of allegiance and oath of office were administered to the two appointees by the Chief Registrar of the State High Court, David Ihua-Maduenyi.
Fubara said the appointments was a call to public service and not a platform for political grandstanding or the pursuit of personal ambition, urging the officials to uphold integrity, restraint and dedication to public interest.
He expressed confidence in the intellectual capacity of Wokoma, describing him as an accomplished academic and mathematician, and urged him to discharge his duties as SSG with diligence and professionalism.
The governor also charged the SSG to represent the state government honourably and support the successful completion of ongoing development projects aimed at advancing the progress of the state.
Similarly, Fubara told Ewule that his office required proper administrative coordination, management of official engagements and protection of the government house’s public image.
He stressed that the Chief of Staff must operate strictly under the governor’s authority and avoid independent political engagements or private strategy meetings without approval.
The governor also directed permanent secretaries who have reached retirement age to prepare handover notes promptly.
He warned against financial misconduct, saying he was monitoring the system to enforce accountability.
