The announcement of the president's wife as permanent secretary in the state civil service had sparked heated argument. While some Nigerians saw it as a step in the wrong direction, others had cautioned that the level of the first lady in the civil service before she went on sabbatical ought to be known before judgment could be passed.
But the state government, in the statement made available to Sunday Tribune on Saturday, noted that while Nigerians were justified to seek to understand issues about their president's wife, there were certain things they did not know about her service to the state before President Goodluck Jonathan assumed office.
"We note with concern the reactions and commentaries that have greeted the recent announcement of the name of the wife of the president of Nigeria, Her Excellency, Dame Patience Jonathan, among 19 public servants who were appointed permanent secretaries in Bayelsa State.
"Whereas, the action taken by our government in this regard was strictly done based on our convictions as it relates to matters that we consider to be in the best interest of our state, we do, however, recognise the fundamental right of Nigerians to know and ask questions about the wife of their president. We want to believe that Nigerians' reactions to the promotion were in good faith, but what has become clear is that many people lack adequate information on the subject matter and hence the urgent need for government to set the records straight," Iworiso-Marson said.
The Bayelsa government explained further that Mrs. Jonathan had been in the employ of the Rivers State Civil Service since the 90s and that she redeployed to the Bayelsa State Civil Service when her husband was elected deputy governor in 1999.
It added that the First Lady rose up to the cadre of a Level 15 officer, adding that the tradition in the state civil service permitted officer below that level to be promoted permanent secretary, considering other factors. "In connection with the above, government wishes to state that unknown to a number of people, the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, joined the Rivers State Civil Service in the 90's and upon the election of her husband as deputy governor in 1999, transferred her services to the Bayelsa State Civil Service.
"She rose through the ranks of the public service of Bayelsa State and was last appointed into the directorate cadre as a Level 15 officer in 2005. By the tradition of the Bayelsa State Civil Service, officers on directorate level, some of whom are even junior to her present position, have been appointed as permanent secretaries before now.
"Even in the list of those currently appointed are those who are not most senior officers. Appointment is based on a combination of factors; leadership, output, dedication, geographical spread and so on. These inform a governor's exercise of his discretionary powers to appoint permanent secretaries in consultation with the appropriate authorities," the government noted.
Tribune
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