Governor Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers State has sacked his Commissioner for Special Duties, Mr. Emeka Wogu, just as he swore in six female permanent secretaries.

Wogu was replaced with Mr. Omunakwe Dickson, whose name will be sent to the state House of Assembly for confirmation as the six new permanent secretaries resumed duty immediately.

Governor Amaechi yesterday swore in the permanent secretaries at a special occasion at the Council Chamber, Government House, Port Harcourt, the state capital.

The permanent secretaries are Dr. Offor Nnesochi, Mrs. Iragunima C. M., Clara Gogo Princewill, Mrs. Amie Nemi Iwo, Mrs. Wihioka Comfort and Dr. Justina Jumbo.

Congratulating them, the governor said they were appointed on merit and urged them to be fair and just while discharging their duties.

He said: “A civil servant is supposed to be a non-politician, but in the Nigerian context, all Nigerians or nearly all Nigerians are politicians. Nearly all and that is because the economy is not productive. So the only productive part of the economy is government and that is because government takes money from oil and everybody wants to be part of the sharing of that money, but the moment the economy becomes productive, a lot of Nigerians would not want to be in politics.

“But we hope that as we increase our desire to improve on our sub-national economy, like all of you the women would contribute to this growth and the way to contribute to it is to ensure that you are fair, you are just and that you work hard and that you are also able to punish those who don’t work hard.”

Amaechi , however, warned the new permanent secretaries against engaging in corrupt practices.

He explained that the appointment of the six female permanent secretaries will increase the number of female permanent secretaries in the state civil service.

“We had looked at the civil service and there were too few women that were permanent secretaries. We felt that we should appoint some women to balance the position and that is what we have done. While I congratulate you on your appointment, I must also state here that you were appointed on merit,” the governor said.