By Our Correspondent
Governor of Cross River State, Senator Liyel Imoke has charged newly appointed Permanent Secretaries who he described as engine room of government, to give total support to the incoming administration in the state to ensure its success.
The governor, who gave the charge while swearing in seven permanent secretaries, enjoined them to also extend the same camaraderie which the outgoing administration shared and enjoyed with them to the new government.
He explained that their inclusion into the state executive council, which was unthinkable at some quarters, was to ensure that they, as highest ranking civil servants, participate in decision making which will be in the interest and overall benefit of the people, stating that, “This experiment has been worthwhile and it is important that you put in your best.
“I expect you to bring your wealth of experience to bear so as to provide strong support to the incoming administration and I equally enjoined you to be creative and innovative and come up with ideas which might be challenges to your minds.”
According to him, “Revenue from oil has dropped by 40 percent this month while fixed costs has remained the same and we are now faced with the challenges of providing services in the face of dwindling revenue which means that you must be creative to meet up the task ahead.”
Imoke disclosed that the new permanent secretaries were appointed on merit after they had successfully passed a promotion examination conducted by ASCON, saying “None of them lobbied anybody to be appointed as I am seeing and shaking hands with some of them for the first time. I charge you to extend and instill this merit to the offices which you will be posted to ensure it continues.”
He congratulated them and also called on them to live up to the confidence which the state government reposed on them in their new offices by being effective, committed and dedicated as well as put in more effort to succeed while calling on their families to show understanding because with their new office and administration, they are expected to work longer and harder.
Responding on behalf of his colleagues, Mr. Ogbang Akwaji, appreciated Governor Imoke for their appointments, he commended him for his legacy projects, unique reforms and commitment to serve the down trodden in spite of the state’s lean resources and assured him of their readiness to contribute their quota to the development of the state.
Earlier, Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Tom Ogar, in his introductory address, said the appointment, which the governor approved several weeks ago, was imperative following vacancies created in the public service due to retirement and deaths of officers in that cadre.