Don’t Lobby For Appointment, Promotion,  Gov Oborevwori Tells  Delta Workers

Delta state governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, has told civil servants in the state not to lobby for appointment or promotion in the course of their careers. 

A statement  made available to Team@orientactualmags.com on Wednesday noted that Governor Oborevwori said this while giving  his speech during the retirement valedictory lecture organized in honour of the outgoing Permanent Secretary , Government House Affairs, Directorate Government House and Protocol, Sir Edwin Ogidi-Gbegbaje, which was held at the Unity Hall, Government House, Asaba. 

The governor, who was represented by the Commissioner for Works (Rural and Riverine Roads), Mr. Charles Aniagwu, said civil servants should not put needless pressure  on those in positions of authority to get appointments or be promoted, submitting that at the right time they would be duly recognized, based on their performance. 

He urged them to be patient and do their job in such a way that their performance would speak for them, saying that lobbying for appointments or promotion is not a good option to adopt. 

While urging them to always concentrate on their duties and allow the system assess and reward  them, the governor emphasized the need for them to render service selflessly to the public. 

He described Sir Ogidi-Gbegbaje as an affable, easy going, selfless, energetic and committed civil servant, pointing out that during the short period that he worked with him as Permanent Secretary, Government House, all administrative works were seamlessly handled . 

Oborevwori disclosed that he never had complaints over Ogidi-Gbegbaje’s handling of intricate, and sometimes, sensitive, issues at the Government House, noting that he had mastered the job like it was a subject that he assiduously studied in school. 

‘During the short period that he worked with me as Permanent Secretary, Government House, all administrative works were seamlessly handled . 

I never had complaints over his handling of intricate, and sometimes, sensitive, issues at the Government House. He has also mastered the job like it was a subject that he assiduously studied in school. 

The high point of his service is the judicious counsel that comes with every service that he rendered. 

As he bows out, his dignified and simple manner of carrying out all his responsibilities, coupled with his  frequent offer of  advice on how best an administrative process and procedure should be carried out would be dearly missed. 

Sir Eddy’s performance and attendant rise poses a great challenge to officers, high and low, who are still in the service. 

I urge all of you to learn the enviable etiquette and good mannerisms of the outgoing Permanent Secretary. 

I, therefore, urge every civil servant, in fact, every public officer, to render service selflessly. Every appointment is people-centred. You should always endeavour to bring yourself to the level of the people you serve. 

That way, you will initiate positive communication between yourself and members of the public who you are appointed to serve. 

Sir Ogidi-Gbegbaje, you have successfully raised the stake in high level performance and human relations. I sincerely hope that you have brought up officers in all the levels you passed who have copied these attributes because it will be to the credit of the civil service that you are leaving behind. 

Dear Sir Ogidi-Gbegbaje, you are retiring but obviously not tired. Do not hesitate to answer our call when we need your services’ the governor said. 

Earlier in his remarks, Rt. Hon. Festus Ovie Agas, who presided over the ceremony, said retirement is an important milestone in the life of any civil servant, while describing Ogidi-Gbegbaje as an uncommon and an exceptional civil servant who seamlessly  delivered even under pressure. 

Hon. Agas noted that the essence of the lecture was to honour a man who had dedicated his life to rendering committed and diligent services to the state and humanity, adding that Sir Ogidi-Gbegbaje was a quintessential civil servant with institutional memory. 

‘If the civil service is given the right atmosphere and the necessary tools, the civil service will produce many Eddys’  the Chairman said while urging civil servants in the state to emulate the inspiring qualities of Eddy in the discharge of their duties. 

Also speaking, the state Head of Service,  Sir Reginald Bayoko, who lauded Sir Ogidi-Gbegbaje’s contribution to the state civil service, said he was a consummate civil servant, a man of vision and courage who served the state with unblemished records. 

Bayoko stated that the retiring Permanent Secretary had been a champion of good governance, adding that his journey through the civil service has been marked with great accomplishments, while wishing him well in his future endeavours in life and praying God to grant him good health and long life. 

 Commissioner for Works (Rural and Riverine Roads), Mr. Charles Aniagwu, said the first time he met Ogidi-Gbegbaje was in 2015 when he was appointed as  Chief Press Secretary  by the then Governor Ifeanyi Okowa. 

He stated that working with the retiring Permanent Secretary was seamless, adding that he had indelible memories working with him, and he has described  Sir Ogidi-Gbegbaje as a master of administration. 

Responding, Sir Ogidi-Gbegbaje, who was highly elated, thanked Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, past governors James Ibori, Emmanuel Uduaghan and the immediate past Governor Ifeanyi Okowa for their confidence in the state civil service. 

He, also paid tribute to past and present Heads of Service in the state, members of the College of Permanent Secretaries in the state and retired Permanent Secretaries as well as those who mentored him in the course of his career in the  civil service. 

Sir Ogidi-Gbegbaje, who was full of gratitude to God for the opportunity given to him serve and retire from service in good health, emphasized the need for the service to encourage officers through training (both in-house and outside) so as to give them the unique opportunity to contribute their quota to the growth of the service. 

While urging civil servants to take charge and be accountable for their actions, he said that he was leaving a legacy of delegation of duty, conviviality and intelligent officers, adding that when spurred  more through training and re-training programmes, the service would do better. 

During the well- attended ceremony, a former Head of Service in the state, Sir Okey Ofili, delivered the retirement valedictory lecture titled ‘A Consummate Civil Servant Who Came, Saw, Conquered And Finished Strong, Hands Over The Baton Of Leadership’-Team@orientactualmags.com
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