In a powerful move to reset the tone of governance in Rivers State, the Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral (Rtd) Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, has charged newly inaugurated board members of key commissions to uphold discipline, competence, and integrity — warning that accountability will be strictly enforced.
Speaking at the Government House in Port Harcourt, where he inaugurated the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), the Civil Service Commission, the Local Government Service Commission, and the Primary Health Care Management Board, Ibas declared that the time for excuses was over and that real performance must begin immediately.
He urged the RSIEC members, led by Dr. Michael Ekpai Odey, to restore confidence in grassroots democracy by conducting elections that are free, fair, and transparent. According to him, “Your task is clear but demanding: deliver credible local government elections. Resist bias and external interference. The people are watching, and you must restore faith in the system.”
To the Civil Service Commission chaired by Dr. Livinus Bariki, Ibas stressed the need for a civil service based on merit, not favoritism. He said the era of mediocrity was over, and called for urgent digital transformation and the enforcement of standardized procedures across ministries and agencies.
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Turning to the Local Government Service Commission, Vice Admiral Ibas reminded them that local governments are the closest to the people, and their effectiveness directly impacts daily lives. He called on the board to drive reforms that eliminate political interference and enforce professionalism at all levels of local government administration.
On healthcare, he tasked the Primary Health Care Board, chaired by Dr. Dawari George, to transform health services across the state’s 23 local government areas. He emphasized the urgent need for well-equipped facilities, skilled personnel, and renewed attention to maternal health, immunization, malaria control, and rural healthcare access.
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Vice Admiral Ibas warned all board members that while the government will provide funding and support, it will not tolerate underperformance. “We will support you — but we will also hold you accountable,” he said firmly, urging them to embrace their new roles with patriotism and commitment to service excellence.
He concluded by expressing confidence in the capacity of the new appointees to drive real change, if they choose to put the state above self.
