The Cross River State House of Assembly has granted consequential approval to the State Governor, Senator Bassey Otu to appoint forty (40) Special Advisers.
The approval was granted after the House deliberated on a letter where the Governor stated that the request was in line with the provisions of Section 196(1) of the 1999 Constitution as ammended adding that the Special Advisers are to assist him in the performance of his official functions.
The Lawmakers noted that the new Governor needs to appoint people of integrity who will assist him deliver his campaign promises to Cross Riverians. They further congratulated the Governor on his assumption of office and wished him well in his new assignment.
Meanwhile, Gov. Otu, has charged his newly appointed principal officers to live above board and be ready to render quality and selfless service to the people.
The governor gave the charge in his office, in Calabar, Wednesday, during an interactive session with his newly appointed aides.
On Wednesday, the governor announced the appointments of Secretary to the state Government, Prof. Anthony Owan-Enoh, Chief of Staff, Hon. Emmanuel Ironbar, Acting State Chief of Protocol, Mr. Sylvester Abang and Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Emmanuel Ogbeche.
Otu used the occasion to inform the appointees that they were carefully selected based on their track records and unmatched credentials in their chosen endeavours, admonishing them to see their appointments as call to service.
“Whatever position you are assigned today, I urge you to work with utmost responsibility with the interest of our people at heart.
“This is a collective choice of well-meaning Cross Riverians and you must bring your expertise and wealth of experience to bear to better the lot of our people because there are great expectations from Cross Riverians to do things right.
“We must deliver on our mantra of the Peoples First Agenda. I am very happy to welcome you to join hands with me as I deliver what we have promised to do.
“While I charge you to immediately roll your sleeves for serious work, let me inform you that these appointments were made after due consultations with critical stakeholders and I believe you will not disappoint them and the people that have given us this mandate to serve them,” the governor said.
Responding on behalf of the newly appointed principal officers, the Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Prof. Anthony Owan-Enoh, thanked Governor Otu for the confidence reposed in them to serve and promised to work assiduously to deliver on their mandates.
“We are very excited by this opportunity you have given us to serve you and our dear state. Your Excellency, we know that the task is enormous, but we promise to work in line with your prescribed service delivery ethics of standard, hard work and perseverance,” the SSG said.
In attendance was the Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon Peter Odey, Speaker of the State Assembly and Senator-elect for Cross River Central Senatorial District, Rt. Hon. Eteng Williams, amongst others.
