Ebonyi civil servants aspiring to be permanent secretaries may have to write a series of examinations to evaluate their competence in handling sensitive positions.

Governor David Umahi gave the directive on Thursday, telling the Head of Service, Dr. Chamberlain Nwele, to oversee the process.

Umahi, in a statement on Saturday by his Chief Press Secretary, Emma Anya, explained that the tests would help the government to select the best hands to drive its developmental policies.

The Governor spoke after the ministries and some departments in the state made live television and radio presentations of the activities in the past two years at the Abakaliki Township Stadium.

Umahi stated that each of the 13 local government areas in the state would produce a permanent secretary to ensure equity in the appointment of civil servants.

His words: “I want to ask Head of Service to go ahead with a committee to set written examination for all those that want to be permanent secretaries. They have to write the exam and you will mark it and the best in each LGA will emerge as Permanent Secretary. There will be no lobbying for it. It has to be the best person who has the vision of his ministry. The aspirants will go through about three different kinds of tests. They will not be tested by only one body.”

He observed that there was poor attendance of civil servants at the event and directed that they would have to queue behind their commissioners in subsequent presentations.

“It is very unfortunate that many civil servants are not here. Next time we do it, all the civil servants will come and stand behind their commissioners to do your presentations,” he said.

The Governor, who applauded the commissioners for their efforts to deliver in their mandate, pointed out that it was important for the public to know the extent of their achievements.

In her presentation, the Commissioner for Water Resources, Mrs. Euphemia Nwali, assured the people of the state that the ministry would commence pumping of water from Oferekpe water scheme to Abakaliki capital city next month.

On his part, the Commissioner for Works and Transport, Engr. Fidelis Nweze, said that construction work on Nkalagu-Umuhuali-Ehamufu road would be completed and inaugurated before the end of this year.

Other members of the state executive council, including the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Benard Odoh, reiterated their commitment to make life more meaningful to Ebonyi people through their service.