Governor Similanayi Fubara has sworn in the newly-screened commissioners of the state.
The commissioner-nominees took the oath of office some hours after they were screened and confirmed on Tuesday by the Oko-Jumbo led House of Assembly.
The swearing ceremony was held at the Executive Council Chamber of the Government House in Port Harcourt.
After their swearing in, the governor charged them to cultivate the culture of keeping accurate records of their dealings in their various ministries, maintaining that such culture is essential for the effective functioning of any organised system, particularly the civil service because they provide useful history of events, decisions and actions, including indices of productivity.
He lamented that some commissioners who recently resigned from his administration ignored the culture of proper documentations.
“I know what I am saying. Some of them who left here as commissioners, there are no records in their ministries,” the governor said Tuesday night. “We’ve had a few meetings with people. We were looking for records which we could not find, but that is for them and their gods, I am not bothered about that.
“But, you that are coming in now, please, do this work as seasoned administrators. Work with your Permanent Secretaries, the things that you don’t know, ask questions from them, they will tell you, they will teach you too. It doesn’t reduce you as not being the head. But it helps you to succeed as a good administrator.
“Let me say this, this government is a government that is birthed by high level discipline.
“I don’t know about other people that are working with me, but as a person, from the time that I started working as civil servant, from the time I worked in the Office of the Accountant General with my boss, we didn’t play with keeping good records.
“I can boldly stand here to say that whatever that transpired, the records are there right from the time we worked from 2007 to date. They are there for anybody to go and see.
“Likewise, what happened from the time of the immediate past administration. I carefully kept my records clean. The records are there.
“So, I want you to understand that, while I am sitting here to pilot the affairs of this state, as a matter of fact, the records I am keeping are even more excellent because I have a day-to-day report of what I am doing.
“So, I am not bothered or afraid. Call me any day, call me anytime, I will stand and defend every action, every decision that we have taken.
“So, I want you to stand on that premise, knowing fully well that whatever you are doing, in case you are called upon tomorrow to give account, you can do so confidently. Keep your records straight.
“The oath you took is the charge. I am not asking you to be obedient to me. I am not asking you to do my bidding. But I am requesting from everyone of you here to defend the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the dignity of our dear state.
“Your position as a Commissioner today is not just for you to answer to me. It is to work for the interest of our state.
“But I know that with what I have heard, with the few of you that I have related with, I know that you are men of integrity.
“You are not going to bring shame to our dear state, you are not going to bring shame to your families, you are not going to bring shame to your local governments. You will stand tall, no matter the situation,” he said.
