By Peter Onyekachukwu 
By Peter Onyekachukwu, Port Harcourt
In one of his final official acts, outgoing Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd), on Wednesday night swore in Mrs. Inyingi Brown as the substantive Head of Service, just hours before exiting office.
The ceremony, held quietly in Port Harcourt, marked the formal confirmation of Brown, who had been in acting capacity since the resignation of her predecessor, George Nwaeke.
Ibas described the appointment as a crucial step to ensure stability in the state’s civil service, urging Brown to extend the loyalty she demonstrated under his interim leadership to Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
He highlighted achievements recorded during his brief stewardship, including the conduct of local government elections, reinstatement of elected chairmen, reconstitution of statutory boards, passage of the state budget, and restoration of legal frameworks for governance.
“The civil service is the engine of government, often unseen but always essential,” Ibas told senior officials present. “Administrations may change, but institutions must endure beyond individuals.”
He also cautioned against political rivalry and the abuse of power, warning that unchecked governance could weaken institutions and threaten democracy.
Mrs. Brown’s swearing-in provides Governor Fubara with a fully constituted Head of Service as he begins the task of steering Rivers State after six months of emergency rule.