Abia governor swears in Edo born as new head of service

• In 2023, Otti appointed him a permanent secretary following his emergence as one of the best in the selection process.
• He was posted to the Government House, where he served until the governor appointed him head of the civil service.

The Abia governor, Alex Otti, has sworn in Benson Ojeikere from Edo as the state’s new head of civil service.

Ferdinand Ekeoma, Otti’s media and publicity adviser, stated that Ojeikere’s exceptional performance as a youth corps member in Abia during the late 90s led to his immediate employment in the state’s civil service.

The spokesperson noted that Ojeikere’s appointment as permanent secretary in 2023, under Otti’s administration, was based on his outstanding achievements and merit.

“Governor Otti congratulated the highly elated Ojeikere and enjoined him to justify his well-deserved appointment by putting in his best in line with the vision and desire of his government to build a robust and efficient civil service that would be a reference point in Nigeria and beyond,” Ekeoma said.

Otti reaffirmed his commitment to excellence and merit-based governance in Abia, prioritizing exceptional performance over average standards.

The spokesperson quoted Ojeikere, saying he was “still in shock” over his latest appointment, and although he worked hard daily since joining Abia’s civil service, he never thought he’d surpass the senior director rank.

The newly sworn-in HoS thanked the governor for “allowing himself to be used by God to do what no person would have imagined was possible in any state civil service in Nigeria”, expressing gratitude for his unexpected appointment.

He pledged to justify the trust placed in him by collaborating with the government to reposition Abia’s civil service.