Fubara Warns Rivers Permanent Secretaries Who Breached Rules, Says Misconduct Will Be Punished
Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has warned that Permanent Secretaries who violated civil service rules and engaged in questionable practices during the state’s six-month emergency rule will face consequences. The governor issued the warning on Friday while swearing in Austin Ezekiel-Hart as a new Permanent Secretary at the Government House, Port Harcourt. Fubara said his administration would no longer overlook misconduct within the service, stressing that records of past irregularities have been preserved and would be addressed at the right time. “To all Permanent Secretaries who supported actions that went against the standards of the civil service, your punishment will come. The records are there, and when the time is right, I’ll bring them up one after the other,” he said. He praised Ezekiel-Hart for demonstrating professionalism and integrity despite pressure, noting that his principled stance was the reason for his appointment. The governor emphasized that civil servants must uphold truth, fairness, and due process at all times, adding that no directive should override established rules. According to him, the civil service remains the backbone of good governance, and his administration will continue to promote accountability and integrity in public service.
