Governor Bassey Otu Inaugurating the new bodies
By Anietie Akpan
Cross River state government has resolved to treat traditional rulers who harbour criminals in their domain as accomplices.
Governor, Senator Bassey Otu read the riot act to the traditional rulers on July 17 when he inaugurated the new Chairman of the State Traditional Rulers Council, His Royal Majesty (Ovai) Elder Solomon Osim Edward.
In press release by his Chief Press Secretary, Comrade Nsa Gill, the governor warned that “any royal father who harbours persons of deviant character will lose his office and be treated as an accomplice.”
He urged the Chairman to take the message to other traditional leaders in the state as he promised that his administration would continue to provide an enabling environment for them to function effectively.
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 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 Privatization Council.
In his address to the inaugurated bodies, beginning with the Chairman of the State Council of Chiefs, the Governor congratulated him, noting 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.
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”, Governor Otu charged the Chairman and the members 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 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.
