Delta State Government has approved that Directors in the State Civil Service should henceforth rise to salary grade level (SGL) 17.

The state governor Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan who announced this while swearing in three new Permanent Secretaries in Asaba directed the state Head of Service to issue the approval circular immediately. Dr. Uduaghan said the approval was made to encourage civil servants in the state to put in their best and ensure efficient service delivery.

He appealed to civil servants in the state to always work hard and promised to continue to use merit as a yard stick in the appointment of Permanent Secretaries.Explaining that the twin virtues of patience and hardwork pays, the governor enjoined civil servants in the state not to be too anxious about money.

His words "Everything should not always be about money. You should work hard because my administration will use merit as a window to measure performance and make appointments".

The governor charged the new Permanent Secretaries to promote discipline in the service and strive to achieve harmonious working relationship with the political class. Dr Uduaghan also charged them to ensure prudence in the management of resources even as he urged them to see that due process govern all their official transitions.

Advising them to be familiar with the content of the three point Agenda of the state government, he said such information would enable them key the programmes of their ministries into the three point agenda.

Continuing he said "you must create the right atmosphere in your different establishment in a way that the required synergy is provided for the full implementation of the policies and programmes of this administration".

Dr. Uduaghan used the occasion to appeal to medical doctors to call of their strike. He said the strike was having adverse effect on the health programme of the state government explaining that while the issue of salaries could be resolved lives lost could never be recalled.

The governor dispelled the insinuation that negotiations has broken down between the state government and doctors and assured medical health workers that the state government was still in dialogue with their representatives.

Responding, one of the newly sworn Permanent Secretaries Mr. Steve Megwai expressed appreciation to the state governor for appointing them into the privileged position. Mr. Megwai who opened his response with a song of praise promised to do their best and protect their integrity and confidence reposed in them.