PORT HARCOURT — The Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral (Rtd.) Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, has issued a two-week deadline to all 23 Local Government Area (LGA) administrators to identify and submit the specific development needs of their respective councils.
The directive was given during the closing ceremony of a four-day Transformational Leadership Training Workshop held in Port Harcourt on Thursday. The event was organized by the Rivers State Government in collaboration with the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), targeting permanent secretaries, LGA administrators, senior officers, and directors of various ministries.
Vice Admiral Ibas emphasized the importance of needs-based planning, budgeting, and evaluation in delivering high-impact projects at the grassroots level. He instructed council administrators to return to their LGAs and draft strategic development plans based on the assessed needs of their communities.
“These plans must be submitted to my office within two weeks for consideration and approval,” he said, stressing accountability and value in public service.
He further announced that the Auditor General for Local Government would be tasked with monitoring the application of resources disbursed to the councils to ensure transparency and efficiency.
Vice Admiral Ibas underscored the need for public officials to serve with integrity, discipline, and a focus on long-term impact, encouraging them to prioritize legacy over applause.
The workshop drew facilitators from NIPSS, the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON), and the Civility Institute. Ibas expressed appreciation to the institutions and the Rivers State civil service for the successful execution of the program, which he said exemplified the professionalism needed across government service.
