Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has presented brand-new Geely Emgrand cars to the 28 permanent secretaries in the state civil service, to enhance their productivity and motivate other civil servants to give their best.
Speaking during the presentation at the Michael Okpara Auditorium, Umuahia, on Tuesday, Governor Otti said the gesture was part of his administration’s commitment to restore dignity to the civil service and provide the necessary tools for effective service delivery.
The governor stated that the appointments of the permanent secretaries were based strictly on merit, transparency and competence, noting that none of them were selected through personal connections.
“All of you attained this position on your own merit, even those I knew before the process did not make it because it was transparently conducted,” Otti said.
While commending the permanent secretaries for their cooperation, Governor Otti described them as instrumental to the success of his administration’s policies and programmes.
He added that the state government had entered a new phase of civil service transformation driven by digitization to improve efficiency and accountability.
Governor Otti disclosed that he had approved the procurement of internet-ready devices for all permanent secretaries, adding that plans were underway to make the entire state internet-enabled.
He explained that the transition to electronic processes would eliminate delays in official correspondence and promote faster decision-making in government business.
The governor further assured the beneficiaries that the vehicles were fully paid for by the state government, stressing that they would not bear any cost.
He expressed confidence that the gesture would lead to better service delivery, greater motivation, and a more efficient civil service in Abia State.
Also speaking, the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Dr. Caleb Ajagba, commended the governor for his transparent and unprecedented gesture in providing brand-new official vehicles to the permanent secretaries.
“This is absolutely free, you are not paying anything and it is unprecedented. This underscores the transparency and sense of purpose of this administration,” he stated.
Ajagba said all 28 cars had been properly numbered, with corresponding documentation, to ensure fairness and accountability in their distribution.
He described Otti as a visionary leader whose actions consistently reflect foresight and commitment to good governance.
In their separate interviews, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information, Sir Chris Onwuegbu, and his counterpart in the Ministry of Labour and Productivity, Mrs. Ijeoma Dim, expressed delight over the gesture, describing it as a morale booster that would further motivate them to deliver better services to the state.
