Standup9ja: FG Appointment, Era of Godfatherism Over In
Nigeria – Lai
The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has
said that as far as federal government appointments to public offices and key
positions are concerned, the era of “godfatherism’’ is over.
The minister stated this in Abuja on Sunday at a
thanksgiving reception by the newly appointed Permanent Secretary in the
Ministry of Information and Culture, Grace Gekpe.
Mr. Mohammed, who was represented by Bayo Onanuga, the
Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, stated that appointment
to positions in the federal government “is strictly by merit’’.
“Gone are those
days when people were appointed into positions by other factors apart from
merit.
“Most of us must
have heard that the new permanent secretaries were asked to write examination;
Gekpe was one of the very few that scaled through the examination.
“Gekpe is a
shining and beautiful woman. That could have earned her the appointment, but
not under this regime of Change.
“She is a
permanent secretary by virtue of hard work, merit and because she has a lot of
things to offer,” he said.
The minister said that the ministry was proud of Ms. Gekpe,
satisfied with her appointment and wished her all the best.
Mr. Mohammed underscored the need for improved funding for
the Ministry of Information and Culture and its parastatal agencies.
“The Ministry of
Information and Culture has a very big responsibility and there is the need for
sufficient funding for it and its agencies.
“The government is
doing a lot of things, but it is being misrepresented by naysayers.
“This is the time
that the government needed to raise an army of competent information managers
to counter the false and negative narratives about the administration,’’ he
said.
He also underscored the need for upward review of the
retirement age of journalists working in the Ministry of Information.
“They are like
judges and university professors; like old wine, they get better with age,’’ he
added.
The Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Winifred
Oyo-Ita, said the position of permanent secretary “is the highest level any
civil servant can dream to reach in the public service’’.
She enjoined Ms. Gekpe to present her life and tenure to God
for wisdom and guidance and as well show understanding and loyalty to her
minister and the administration.
Mrs. Oyo-Ita said:
“She is called to serve the nation and in doing this, she should face her
duties with dignity, integrity and understanding that this is a government of
change, it cannot be business as usual.
“She has to be an
epitome of incorruptibility, she should be efficient, productive, and be a
citizen centred- permanent secretary’’.
In a brief remark, Ms. Gekpe said her appointment was a call
to serve the country.
She pledged to discharge her responsibilities with the fear
of God and in support of the government’s programmes.
“I will put in my
best to assist my immediate boss, the minister, and the government at large to
achieve the agenda set for the country,” she said.
NAN reports that a thanksgiving service was held at the
Living Faith Church, Jahi District, before the reception.
The event was attended by heads of parastatals and agencies
in the Ministry of Information and Culture and representatives of the
Government of Cross River.
(NAN)
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