Goddie Akpama|6 November 2017
It is the prayer of most civil servants to get to attain the rank of permanent secretary which is the very apex of the hierarchy in the civil service.
Hence whoever attains the enviable position of permanent and retires successfully from the public service does so with a sense of satisfaction and fulfillment, having survived the long years of herculean service to the state or the nation as the case may be.
Aside from being the accounting officers of the ministries, permanent secretaries are, in most cases, members of the state executive council, and attend such meetings where crucial decisions about the state are taken.
So, given their very high status in government, and the society, they are, in a way, image-makers of any government in place.
Their conduct, appearance, and carriage ordinarily conveys a lot of message.
In Cross River State, the current permanent secretaries, appear not to be having it easy, as the physical appearance and forlorn looks tells a lot about their welfare.
It is most disheartening seeing permanent secretaries in the state trekking, or entering public transport to their duty post, and some of them putting on tattered shoes , and cloths.
Instead, there is evidence that majority of those given cars, and other vehicles to aid their idleness are not permanent secretaries or even special advisers, most of who, are also trekking and looking dejected.
I appeal to the state governor, Professor Ben Ayade, to look into the plight of permanent secretaries, and address the issue of their mobility to and from work.
The state can afford vehicles for the permanent secretaries given the fact that they are few in number, compared to the number of vehicles that have been distributed to individuals outside government official circles.
I learnt there are vehicles in a pool that can be distributed to the permanent secretaries, because their public appearance and image can be misinterpreted to mean that they are not faring well under your administration.
Your Excellency, this appeal of mine also cover those special advisers, and senior special assistants that are yet to be assigned official vehicles to do their job.
I strongly believe that if the gesture is extended to these categories of public servants, it will contribute a lot to their ease of serving the people of the state you appointed them to work for.
Also, as I stated earlier, since the permanent secretaries, special advisers, and special assistants, are purveyors of the image of your government, if you uplifting their public image would also impress positively on the public image of your administration.
Goddie Akpama
Is a Social Commentator
