Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, administered the oath of office to recently appointed permanent secretaries, emphasizing their duty to perform excellently. During the ceremony at the Government House’s Banquet Hall in Umuahia, the governor stressed his administration’s zero-tolerance policy towards corruption. He cautioned that anyone found engaging in corrupt practices would face severe consequences.
Governor Otti also advised the permanent secretaries against conflicting with the commissioners responsible for their respective ministries. He urged them to view themselves as collaborators with the commissioners, working together for the state’s greater good. Otti assured that they would receive their entitlements and emphasized the government’s commitment to preventing unethical conduct such as seeking kickbacks or exploiting their positions for personal gain.
Furthermore, Otti mentioned that he personally oversaw the selection process for the new permanent secretaries, which was carried out transparently and fairly, with a fair representation of women among the appointees.