Cross River State Governor, Senator Bassey Otu, has inaugurated the new Chairman of the State Traditional Rulers Council, His Royal Majesty (Ovai) Elder Solomon Osim Edward.
Ovai Edward, who is the Paramount Ruler of the Abi local government area in the Central Senatorial District of the State, has a two-year term on the saddle of the leadership of the state’s traditional institution, in line with the provisions of the Council of Chiefs Law of Cross River State.
The formal inauguration was held on Tuesday alongside six other executive bodies of government, namely the State Planning Commission, State Civil Service Commission, State Universal Basic Education Board, House of Assembly Planning Commission, Audit Service Commission, and Cross River State Privatisation Council.
In his address to the inaugurated bodies, beginning with the Chairman of the State Council of Chiefs, the Governor congratulated him. He noted that his administration places high regard on the traditional institution as not only the custodian of the culture and tradition of the State’s people but as a grassroots guarantor of peace and security.
He urged the Chairman to take the message to other traditional leaders in the state that his administration would continue to provide an enabling environment for them to function effectively. Still, he warned that “any royal father who harbours persons of deviant character will lose his office and be treated as an accomplice.”
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To the new Chairman and members of the state civil service commission, Governor Otu lamented that “It is rather a sad commentary that the commission had in recent times been under public scrutiny for perceived corrupt practices which directly exploded the State wage bill,” warning that as unacceptable and abhorrent as such infractions are, his administration “will spare no effort in invoking relevant service rules and regulations against any erring staff.”
“While we await the final report of the ongoing personnel audit and this inauguration, I charge you to put in place a robust internal mechanism to check every aspect of corruption in the commission.”
Similarly, the Governor charged heads and members of all other boards and commissions inaugurated to bring about good reports that will positively impact the growth of the State’s gross domestic economy index.
He specifically disclosed that his administration would develop and remodel at least a thousand schools across the state and urged the State Universal Basic Education Board to ensure that the literacy level of the people is greatly improved, as well as the non-formal education component and skill acquisition programme is pursued vigorously while insisting that “Emphasis should equally be placed on the capacity training of teachers, and head teachers”.
In a vote of thanks, on behalf of all the inaugurated executive bodies, the Chairman of the State Civil Service Commission, Sir Maurice Effiwatt, thanked the Governor for his careful selection of people with proven track records to contribute their quota to the ‘People First’ agenda of his administration which is centred on the growth and development of Cross River, assuring that they will discharge their duties and responsibilities diligently to justify the confidence reposed on them.
The inauguration conducted by the Governor was attended by his deputy, Hon. Peter Odey, the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Rt Hon Elvert Ayambem, the Chief judge of the state, Justice Akon Ikpeme, legislators and other public officials and politicians.
