On the 18th of March, 2025, a State of Emergency was declared in Rivers State, by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, based on the then brewing political crisis between the state Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Barr. Ezebunwo Nyesom Wike.
However, the presence of Rear Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (Rtd), as an esteemed Elder Statesman and former Chief of Naval Staff, to takeover the governance of Rivers State, was initially welcomed with mixed feelings among the political class in the state.
His assumption of office as a Military Administrator and statesman-like intervention for the purpose, for which he was appointed, indeed, restored the expected peace and stability in Rivers State. This was after a protracted political impasse that threatened the security and sociopolitical fabric of the ‘Garden City’ of the nation.
His calm demeanor and deep understanding of security, and commitment to justice, were evident in the manner in which he navigated the state, through a period of tension, and subsequent restoration of harmony, among political actors, and ensuring continuity in governance.
Today, Rivers people are enjoying the fruits of that peace – a testament to Ibas’s leadership and patriotism, which led to the relative peace that is currently being enjoyed in the state.
However, as the dust is politically, and currently being abated, attention is now, being shifted to another critical area of governance in the state: which is the Rivers State Civil Service.
In view of the bewilderment in the state Civil Service, stakeholders, civil servants, and ‘concerned’ citizens are now calling on the state Military Administrator, Rear Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, to extend his legacy of peace and reforms into the bureaucratic corridors of the state Civil Service, which many allegedly described as ‘stagnated’ and in dire need of cleansing.
The aforementioned development in the state Civil Service, has raised a major concern on the continued retention of Permanent Secretaries and Directors, who have already reached their statutory retirement age or completed the required years of service; but have remained in office.
This practice, according to insiders, has created bottlenecks, preventing the promotion of deserving officers and breeding low morale, among younger staff. It also raises the question on, when those at the top refused to exit when their tenures are due? It then, led to shutting the door on the aspirations of many hardworking officers.
Worsening the frustration, which is against the Civil Service Rules, is an alleged recent directive, mandating Administrative Directors to take over the leadership of certain parastatals – a move seen as controversial, especially in agencies where the law clearly provides that only professionals in the relevant fields should head the establishments.
This alleged decision, critics argue, is creating unnecessary rifts and threatens to weaken the technical capacity of key government institutions, hence, the call on Rear Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas Rtd., to urgently look into the aforementioned ugly developments in the state Civil Service, for consolidation on his integrity and the already established peace in the state.
The ‘concerned civil servants,’ are passionately appealing to the Military Administrator, not to allow his clean and respected records in the state, in the last few months, to be stained by unpopular decisions within the state Civil Service. They were of the view that the state Administrator has a great opportunity to be remembered, not just as a peacemaker, but also, as the man who sanitized the Civil Service, by putting the square pegs in square holes.
The ‘concerned civil servants’ in their observations have called for the reform of the state Civil Service, and insisted that such reform must include: merit-based appointments, strict adherence to Civil Service Rules, and the enforcement of retirement guidelines that ensures fair and timely career progression for all and sundry civil servants in the state.
As Rivers State is back on the pedestal of peace, stability and development, under the watchful eyes of Rear Admiral Ibok-Ete Abas – a man believed and trusted by many, for doing the needful. They are confident and optimistic that he will rise once more, to the occasion, and ensure that the state Civil Service is restructured in a way that promotes productivity, professionalism, fairness, and growth.
Comr. B. Elums
13/06/2025.
