Dr. Wisdom Sawyer was on Wednesday sworn into office by the Bayelsa State governor, Senator Douye Diri, as head of the state civil service, with a marching order for him to immediately redeploy all staff of the state pensions board.
Apart from those currently working in that board, Diri also ordered the new HoS to redeploy heads of departments and also undertake new postings immediately. He did not say why. But he insisted that Sawyer should report back immediately after the order has been carried out.
“You are hereby directed to post out every civil servant in our pensions board, including those coming from the ministry of finance, from the accountant general’s office and all the heads of departments. New postings should be done and ensure that men and women of integrity are posted there. A report should be sent back to me.”
On the same day, Diri also swore in two Special Advisers on Legal Matters, Dr. Alabo Ozubide and Inemo Oruebimiekumo, during the 172nd state executive council meeting in Government House, Yenagoa.
The governor, who charged the 55-year-old HoS to exhibit a high sense of professionalism in executing his duties and ensure that the civil service remained loyal and disciplined, explained that he was appointed on merit.
He also stated that Sawyer was chosen based on integrity and as the most senior Permanent Secretary and not on any other primordial considerations.
His words: “You were appointed as Head of Service not because you are from the governor’s local government area but that you have proven to be a man of integrity. Also, among your peers, you are the most senior.
“There are some who are qualified by several other parameters but their dates of retirement are just one or two years left and l do not want to appoint another HoS before l leave office. Having gone through your resume, clearly you will outlive my administration the way l inherited your predecessor.”
He appreciated the immediate past HoS, who he noted discharged her duties with utmost responsibility, describing her as among the finest in the civil service.
