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Rivers  State  Governor,  Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has  declared  that  former  governor Rotimi  Amaechi left an empty  treasury, saying  that the  former  governor  left a poor state with no resources.

Speaking  during  the  Rivers  State  Civil Service Day on Tuesday, Governor  Wike  said   he met a state without  resources, wondering  why the former  governor  would leave debts if the state had resources. According  to him: “If there was any money  left, why was the former  governor  unable to pay to two months  salaries  of civil  servants,  six months  pension  arrears for retired civil servants  and the state could  not  pay WAEC  fees.”

The governor  said   his administration had been  able to overcome the challenges of  lack of resources occasioned by the failure  of  the  last administration  to respect  the  principles of probity and accountability. He said  the new Rivers  Vision  of  his administration  was aimed at repositioning  the  civil service  for greater  productivity. Governor Wike noted that the  State Civil Service  had a critical  role  to  play  in the revival  of  the  state.

He said : “ I wish to reiterate our promise to prioritise the welfare of the state’s civil service. Clearly, we have demonstrated good faith and commitment by clearing the backlog of outstanding arrears of unpaid salaries and pension benefits owed to civil servants by the past administration.

“We have also un-freezed the payment of overheads to the Ministries, Departments, and Agencies. Plans for training for enhanced capacity building and effective service delivery are underway. Similarly, the state secretariat complex and the offices will receive the necessary restoration and face-lift to provide for the desired conducive work environment.”

Speaking further, the  governor  urged civil servants  to remain  non partisan and be loyal and committed  to  the  administration. He assured that his administration  would  favour women in appointments  and delegation  of key responsibilities. In his remarks,  Head of Service,  Mr. Rufus  Godwins commended the governor for his commitment  to  the  welfare of civil servants, especially the payment  of  two months  salaries  owed by the previous  administration.

Chairman  of  the  State Civil Service Commission,  Mr. Oris Onyiri,  urged the civil servants  to reciprocate the kind gesture of  the  governor by improving  on their performance.  The  Rivers  State  Civil Service  Day  and Awards Celebration was attended  by  the Deputy  Governor,  Dr Ipalibo Harry  Banigo. It had as its  theme: “The role of the  public  service  in women empowerment,  innovation and accessible service  delivery “.

However, efforts made to reach the former governor, Rotimi Amechi, on the issue proved abortive as his calls were not picked and text messages sent to his cell have not been replied as at press time. The two had been at loggerheads since they fell out towards the end of Amechi's tenure, especially after the present governor was made a minister by the Jonathan administration. The present governor had accused the former of corruption and had promised to probe Rotimi Amechi. He had also followed his words with action by intimating the EFCC of Amechi's corrupt practices as governor of Rivers State.