Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, has charged the newly appointed Head of Service (HOS), Mrs. Charity Babigha-Ehimen, to lead the state civil service with fairness, humility and integrity, while strengthening discipline, accountability and efficient service delivery.
The governor gave the charge on Thursday at the swearing-in ceremony of the new HOS, where he urged her to deploy her wealth of experience to improve the performance of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
Congratulating her, Oborevwori noted that Babigha-Ehimen had served in various capacities since joining the Delta State Civil Service in 1993, rising through the ranks to become a director before her appointment as Permanent Secretary in 2019.
“I expect you to put that experience to good use in your new role,” he said, urging her to work closely with Permanent Secretaries and heads of agencies to promote discipline, accountability and prudent management of public resources.
The governor stressed that effective leadership in the civil service required more than supervision, and asked the new HOS to encourage workers, support their professional development and demonstrate the standards expected of them.
“Your responsibility is not just to supervise the service, but to help our people work better and serve the public with pride,” he said.
He also called on Permanent Secretaries, directors and heads of MDAs to cooperate with the new HOS, stressing that collective commitment was essential to a more efficient and responsive public service.
Oborevwori reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to workers’ welfare, citing regular payment of salaries, sustained investment in training and incentives to improve staff morale and productivity.
He explained that the 13th-month salary initiative was designed to give workers a substantial end-of-year financial benefit, rather than the traditional distribution of food items.
The governor disclosed that his administration had approved the construction of 12 additional duplexes for Permanent Secretaries, as well as a clubhouse for civil servants, with the contract for the clubhouse expected to be awarded soon.
Commending the immediate past Head of Service, Dr. Minimie Oseji, for her dedication to the state, he wished her a peaceful and fulfilling retirement.
Oborevwori urged civil servants to remain committed, honest and diligent in the discharge of their duties, irrespective of the political season. He also appealed to political leaders and their supporters to shun intimidation and violence ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Responding, Babigha-Ehimen thanked the governor for finding her worthy of the appointment and pledged to discharge her responsibilities with dedication, fairness and integrity, while ensuring effective implementation of the MORE Agenda to improve service delivery across the state.
She unveiled a four-point strategic action plan aimed at building a competent, digitally empowered, disciplined and productive civil service. According to her, the plan will focus on human capital development and digitalisation, workers’ welfare, internal collaboration, and teamwork with Permanent Secretaries and Heads of Departments.
The new HOS also acknowledged the governor’s commitment to workers’ welfare, citing the 13th-month salary, capacity-building initiatives, pension and retirement benefits, and prompt payment of salaries.
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