In line with the stream lining and right sizing of ministries in the state, Governor Douye Diri has restructured the thirty two ministries into twenty one to as well address the duplication and cumbersome reports emanating from such ministries.
This is borne out of the series of engagements between the state governor and the state Head of Service Dr Mrs. Biobelemoye Charles-Oyama and Permanent Secretaries in the state.
Speaking during an enlarge meeting and interactive session with Permanent Secretaries at the Executive Chambers Government House in Yenagoa, Governor Douye Diri said the downsizing is done in good faith to check the cost of governance in reality to the effect of biting economy globally.
Senator Diri clarified the air that in the course of the merger no Permanent Secretary would be sacked but repositioned to improve the effectiveness in the discharge of their duties.
Using the example of Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, he said “Hitherto you had the Ministry of Youths separate and had Ministry Sports separate; now you merge the two to be none and called the Ministry of Youths and Sports Development.
“That effectively suggest that there will be a Permanent Secretary in charge of Youths and there will equally be a Permanent Secretary in charge of Sports Development” the governor said.
The Ministries as restructured by the governor are: Ministries of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Budget and Economic Planning, Communication Science and Technology, Culture Tourism and Ijaw National Affairs.
Others are Ministries of Education, Environment, Finance, Health, Justice, Information and Orientation, Labour Employment and Empowerment, Lands Housing and Urban Development, Local Government Chieftaincy and Community Development.
The governor also named other ministries to include: Ministries of Mineral Resources, Power and Water Resources, Special Duties, Special Projects, Trade Industry and Investment, Women Children Affairs and Social Development, Works and Transport and Youths and Sport Development.
The governor, Senator Diri, also reiterate that the next line of action will be the reposting of Permanent Secretaries, stating that those who would be Permanent Secretaries in the mainstream will go according to seniority.
“In the event where an extra ministerial department has a Permanent Secretary, he or she would report to the supervising commissioner in synergy with Permanent Secretary in the mainstream ministry” the governor said.
The governor also used the opportunity to state that it is the policy of his administration not to replace any Permanent Secretary who retires from service and as well restructure some departments and agencies to function without any Permanent Secretary.
Senator Diri used the opportunity to congratulate the state for being COVID 19 negative so far but emphasized the fact that with the cases in two neighboring states, all hands must be on deck to avert any eventuality in Bayelsa State.
