• Sole Administrator appoints new SSG, head of service
Facts have emerged as to why the Rivers State Head of Service, Dr. George Nwaeke, resigned.
Nwaeke was appointed by suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara in 2023.
According to reliable sources close to the Government House, Port Harcourt, before the emergence of Siminalayi Fubara as governor, the service term for so many permanent secretaries in the State Civil Service had elapsed but was retained on contract by the former Governor, Nyesom Wike.
Consequently, The Guardian gathered that Nwaeke’s service term was gulped by the former Head of Service, Rufus Godwin, who ought to have retired in 2017 from service but was retained by Wike on a contract basis till 2023. In other words, Nwaeke’s service term was affected by delayed promotion and improper civil service administration.
Also, the former Permanent Secretary of the Government House, Dr. Samuel Nwankwo, was on a contract basis. It was after Wike exited the office and became the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), that he pulled out Mr. Godwin and gave him an appointment in Abuja.
Consequently, Nwaeke had a very short service term, which ended in December 2024, because he was a victim of delayed promotion. He was, however, allowed in office while Fubara shopped for his replacement before the political crisis escalated.
The source said, “The truth is that one of the people affected by the improper civil service administration was the outgone Head of Service, Nwaeke, as his service term ended in December 2024, but Fubara left him while looking for someone to appoint before the crisis escalated.”
In the heat of the crisis between Fubara and his estranged godfather, Wike, the latter flushed out all the permanent secretaries that were on contract bases, and in less than a year, January 16 and August 16, 2024, he (Fubara) swore in permanent secretaries into the State Civil Service.
MEANWHILE, the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, has announced the appointment of the new Secretary to the Rivers State Government (SSG), Prof. Ibibia Lucky Worika.
In a statement from the Government House yesterday, Ibas said the appointment followed careful consideration of Worika’s credentials, extensive experience, and performance during a rigorous selection process.
The former SSG, who served under suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, is Dr. Tammy Danagogo.
Ibas has also announced the new Head of service in an acting capacity, Dr. Mrs. Iyingi Brown.
Brown is the Permanent Secretary of welfare from the office of the former Head of Service, Nweke, who just resigned.