Rivers Sole Administrator Reconstitutes Civil Service, LG Service Commissions

Rivers State Sole Administrator, Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd) has reconstituted the Rivers State Civil Service Commission and the Rivers State Local Government Service Commission.

Ibas had last week announced the suspension of all political appointments made by suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, which affected several boards and agencies of the state government.

In a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Ibiba Worika announced Dr Livinus Bariki as the chairman of the Civil Service Commission while Mr Isreal Amadi will serve as chairman of Local Government Service Commission.

The statement said the appointments took effect from April 7, 2025.

LEADERSHIP recalls that a retired permanent secretary in the state civil service, Sir Ndu Walter and immediate-past rector of Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic, Port Harcourt, Dr. Sam Kalagbor, were among the new administrators named for the 23 local government areas earlier on Wednesday.

Ibas had announced the appointments of the LGA administrators, in a statement released in the early hours of Wednesday by the SSG, Professor Worika.

The announcement came despite an order of Justice Adamu Tukaki Muhammed of the Federal High Court restraining the state sole administrator from appointing administrators for the LGAs.

A rights group, the Plex Centre for Civic Education Initiative, had on March 28, 2025, filed a suit with the No FHC/ PH/ CS/46/2025, praying the court for reliefs, top of which was an order of interim induction restraining the Sole Administrator or his agents from appointing the sole administrator or whatever name called for the 23 local government areas.

The group also prayed for any other order deemed necessary in the circumstance.

Consequently, the judge held that he found the prayers by the petitioner valid to grant and fixed April 14, 2025, for hearing.