Nominees appointed by President Bola Tinubu to the Rivers State Local Government Service Commission vowed on Wednesday to overhaul the state’s workforce, targeting chronic issues like tardiness and inefficiency while improving employee welfare.
During a Senate screening in Abuja, Ezreal Amadi, the proposed chairman, outlined a vision to instill private sector-style discipline in local government operations. Drawing from his corporate background, Amadi recounted waiting hours for late colleagues during his early career, a practice he reported to then-senior civil servant Ngozi Odu, who later became deputy governor.
“There will be no room for indolence,” Amadi told senators. “We must restore dignity and efficiency to public service at the grassroots.” Rear Adm. Emmanuel Offik (retd), another nominee, echoed Amadi’s call for discipline, emphasizing its role in effective service delivery. Offik also stressed the need to enhance staff welfare to sustain reforms, saying, “A motivated workforce is critical to lasting change.”
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Other nominees — Linus Nwandem, Christabel George-Didia, Tonye Willie Pepple, Richard Ewoh, and Samuel Apiafi — pledged support for the reform agenda, aligning with Tinubu’s push to address governance challenges in Rivers State, currently under emergency rule.
The screening, overseen by the Senate’s ad hoc committee on emergency rule oversight, follows Tinubu’s request for approval of the appointments. The move is part of broader efforts to stabilize local governance amid political tensions, including debates over local government autonomy and recent administrative changes.
Critics, including former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bode George, have questioned the legality of Tinubu’s interventions. However, groups like the Nigeria Peace and Governance Initiative have praised the appointments as steps toward merit-based governance.
The nominees’ focus on discipline and welfare signals a potential shift for Rivers State’s local government system, which serves millions across 23 local government areas. Success will hinge on balancing strict accountability with measures to boost employee morale, analysts said. The Senate is expected to confirm the nominees in the coming weeks, paving the way for the commission to begin implementing its reform agenda.
