Rivers State Government has announced the commencement of a phased rehabilitation of the State Secretariat in Port Harcourt, in a move aimed at revitalizing the public service and improving the welfare of civil servants across the state.
The Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral (Rtd) Ibok-Ete Ibas, disclosed this at the closing ceremony of a four-day Transformational Leadership Training Workshop organized by the state government in collaboration with the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS). The event, which brought together Permanent Secretaries, Directors, Local Government Administrators, and senior officials, was held to sharpen leadership skills and bolster governance reforms.
Vice Admiral Ibas emphasized that while training and capacity-building are essential, a functional and dignified work environment is equally critical to unlocking the productivity of public servants.
“During my recent inspection of the State Secretariat, I deliberately walked floor by floor to observe the realities civil servants face. The experience was eye-opening—poor electricity supply, broken elevators, unhygienic restrooms, and lack of essential work tools. These are unacceptable conditions,” he said.
He announced that the government would undertake a phased rehabilitation of the secretariat, improve the work environment, and review civil service welfare policies within available resources. “God willing, I will ensure your workplace reflects the dignity your service deserves,” he assured.
The Administrator also charged Local Government Council Administrators to apply the lessons learned from the training to deliver people-centered governance. He directed them to return to their communities and conduct needs assessments, followed by submission of strategic development plans within two weeks.
He pledged that the Auditor-General for Local Governments would be empowered to ensure strict monitoring of public funds, ensuring transparency and value for money.
The Acting Head of Service, Dr. Iyingi Brown, described the workshop as historic—the first of its kind for the Rivers State Civil Service. She expressed optimism that the leadership training would translate into enhanced service delivery.
“This is a strategic investment in human capital development. We expect measurable improvements in the quality of public administration across the state,” she said.
