Dickson warns politicians, plans civil service reform

The Bayelsa State Governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson, has reaffirmed his commitment to carry out effective reforms in the civil service to make it more result-oriented and respectable.
He, therefore, warned politicians to leave civil servants out of politics and also called on the civil servants not to allow themselves to be used by politicians in the furtherance of their political ambitions.
The governor, who spoke through the state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Jonathan Obuebite, said those were part of his charge to permanent secretaries, directors and heads of departments of various ministries, departments and agencies during a meeting in Yenagoa.
The Governor, who commended the top hierarchy of the civil service for supporting the ongoing reforms in the service, said whatever the government was doing, was purely to properly reposition the service to function effectively in line with best practices.
Dickson, who said the permanent secretaries, directors and HODs were unanimous in their support for the ongoing reforms in the service, noted that the reform would go a long way in enthroning a civil service that would be apolitical, disciplined and focused.
While commending Dickson for adhering to the age-long order of seniority and succession in the civil service, against what prevailed in the recent past, the top civil servants declared their support for the six-month extension of the tenure of the Head of Service, Dr. Peter Singabele.