After Five Years, Delta Administrative Forum Reboots Professional Cadre
Five-Year Hiatus Ends in Asaba
AFTER a five-year interregnum, the Administrative Officers’ Forum of the Delta State Civil Service has formally inducted 151 officers into the Administrative Officers Cadre, signaling a renewed drive toward institutional strengthening and professional development in the state’s public service.
The induction ceremony, held in Asaba, followed a two-day orientation programme designed for officers converted into the cadre between 2021 and 2024. The event drew former Heads of Service, serving and retired Permanent Secretaries, and senior government officials, reflecting its significance within the state bureaucracy.
Declaring the ceremony open, the State Head of Service, Dr. Mininim Oseji, described the Administrative Officers Cadre as a critical leadership stream within the civil service structure. She reminded inductees that their conversion signified not merely a change in designation but a deeper obligation to uphold governance standards.
Expanding Responsibility, Not Status
Dr. Oseji charged the officers to strictly adhere to Public Service Rules and Financial Regulations, maintain accurate records, provide sound administrative advice, and promote transparency and accountability across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
“You should see your conversion and induction not as an elevation of status, but as an expansion of responsibility,” she said, noting that the expectations and scrutiny attached to the cadre were considerably higher.
She added that Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s support for the exercise aligned with the administration’s MORE Agenda, which prioritises institutional reforms and improved service delivery.
Overcoming Funding Constraints
The Chairman of the Forum, Mr. Emokiniovo Itobore, who assumed office in 2025, explained that the induction had been delayed for several years due to funding challenges. He described the successful hosting of the programme as a milestone achieved despite fiscal constraints.
“For several years, this induction could not hold due to paucity of funds,” he noted, commending both the Governor and the Head of Service for facilitating the process.
The Dean of the Forum, Mr. Kingsley Olomukoro, urged the inductees to embrace professionalism, ethical decision-making and innovation in tackling public sector challenges.
The ceremony concluded with the administration of the oath of allegiance, presentation of a communiqué, and a symbolic handshake with the Head of Service — gestures underscoring a renewed commitment to disciplined, accountable and forward-looking public administration in Delta State.
