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PRESS RELEASE

GOV. DICKSON APPOINTS DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF

The Governor of Bayelsa State, the Hon. Hernry Seriake Dickson, has approved the appointment of Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, mni, as his Deputy Chief of Staff. The appointment takes effect from Tuesday, 14^th February 2012.

The new Deputy Chief of Staff, Mrs. Diiarau Didi Esther Walson-Jack, is an Alumna of the prestigious National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS). Before her current appointment, Mrs. Walson-Jack,mni, was a Deputy Director (Appointment, Promotion and Discipline) at the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, Abuja. She had earlier served as Deputy Director (Administration) and Co-ordinator of the Rivers State Office of the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, having transferred her service to the Federal Civil Service in 2009. Didi was until the 30^th of December 2008 the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Justice and Solicitor-General of Bayelsa State.

Mrs. Walson-Jack was a pioneer staff of the Ministry of Justice at the creation of Bayelsa State. She had previously served as Special Assistant to the Wife of the Deputy Governor of Rivers State, and Head of the Legal department of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, where because of her specialist skills in Legislative Drafting and the insufficient human resources in the new Bayelsa State, she worked for both the Executive and Legislative arms of the government.

Mrs. Walson-Jack was appointed Solicitor-General of Bayelsa State and Permanent Secretary Ministry of Justice of Bayelsa State by the Governor Alamieyeseigha administration in 2002. She was the youngest person to be appointed to that position, which she held until 30^th December 2008.

She was the Solicitor-General of Bayelsa State and Permanent Secretary Ministry of Justice of Bayelsa State during the tenure of the Governor, Hon. Henry Seriake Dickson, as Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice. Their tenure is credited with several policy directions, and sound and unprecedented developments in the justice sector in Bayelsa State.

Born on the 27^th day of August, 1966, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State to the current Traditional Ruler of Tombia-Ekpetiama, His Highness, Christian Okpofaa and Mrs. Timikoru Beauty Otobotekere of Bayelsa State, Mrs. Walson-Jack attended Shell Primary School, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Federal Government Girls’ College, Benin City, Edo State, and Federal Government College, Ilorin, Kwara State. Mrs. Walson-Jack graduated with a Bachelor of Laws degree (LL.B) degree from the University of Lagos in 1986. She attended the Nigerian Law School and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1987, as a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria. She holds Certificates in Legislative Drafting from the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, Lagos, and the California State Senate U.S.A.

Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, mni, is the current National Assistant Secretary General of the Alumni Association of the National Institute (AANI).

Mr. Daniel I. Markson

Senior Special Assistant to the Governor (Media and Public Affairs)