By Samuel Oyadongha
Yenagoa—Bayel-sa State new Head of Service, HoS, Rev Obegha Julius Oworibo, has been charged to consolidate on the reforms taking place in the state civil service.

Governor Timipre Sylva gave the charge at the swearing in ceremony of the new Head of Service in Yenagoa.
The governor noted that the appointment of the HoS was coming at a critical period in the history of the state, as the government was undertaking reforms to sanitise the state civil service.

He noted that the current structure of the state civil service was done in an emergency situation due to the state creation and consequent developments from Rivers State Civil Service, adding that there were anomalies that needed to be corrected.

According to him, the report of the biometric capture exercise revealed that there are malpractices in the service, with as much as four thousand ghost workers and several unauthorised appointments.

The governor disclosed that Rev Oworibo’s appointment was based on merit, adding that he was picked for the job by the state civil service commission by virtue of his training, experience and good character.

Sylva expressed confidence in the ability of the new head of service to discharge his duties creditably, and stated that he was equal to the task of heading the civil service, having represented the state at the national level.

Rev Oworibo takes over from the former head of service, Mr. Marsh Ebimogha, who retired from the service.
Until his appointment as head of service, Rev Oworibo was the Permanent Secretary of General Services, Governor’s Office.

Aged 52, Rev Oworibo is the fourth head of service in the state and was the state coordinator of the Amnesty Implementation Committee.

The ceremony was witnessed by the state deputy governor, Peremobowei Ebebi, state chief judge, Justice Kate Abiri, Secretary to the State Government, Gideon Ekeuwei, members of the state executive council and other top government functionaries.