Rivers Gov Fubara Threatens Sanctions for Permanent Secretaries Who Breached Civil Service Rules

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has warned that Permanent Secretaries who violated civil service rules and engaged in illegal activities during the state’s six-month emergency rule will face disciplinary action.

Fubara issued the warning on Friday while swearing in Austin Ezekiel-Hart as a new Permanent Secretary at the Government House in Port Harcourt.

He urged the appointee to uphold professionalism, maintain integrity, and avoid any act that could tarnish the image of the civil service. The Governor reiterated that his administration remains firmly committed to due process and ethical governance, describing the civil service as the “backbone of good governance.”

“The Records Are There — They Will Be Revisited”

Reflecting on events during the emergency rule period, Fubara lamented that some Permanent Secretaries abandoned due process and compromised the principles of public service. He vowed that such misconduct would not go unpunished.

“I have decided that this time around, I won’t talk too much; actions will speak for us,” Fubara said. “For every one of you who participated in illegality — not because of the situation, but by failing to guide things rightly — your punishment will come. The records are there, and at the right time, I’ll bring them up one after another.”

He emphasised that no circumstance should justify undermining established procedures, warning that those who failed to uphold the standards of the civil service would be held accountable.

Integrity Rewarded

Commending the newly appointed Permanent Secretary, Fubara praised Ezekiel-Hart for his professionalism and principled stance, saying his refusal to compromise integrity under pressure earned him the new position.

“You stood your ground as a professional,” the Governor said. “It doesn’t matter who gives the directive — what matters is doing the right thing and defending your superiors within the bounds of due process.”

Fubara reiterated that his administration would never compel any officer to act outside the law, stressing that honesty, fairness, and consistency must guide public service conduct at all times.