I Will Increase The Number Of Political Appointees – Ayade

By Our Correspondent

Contrary to expectations that the governor of Cross River State, Senator Ben Ayade, will be constrained by paucity of funds and the debt burden of the state, to reduce the number of political appointee, the governor has promised to rather increase the number as a means of creating employment, which is a key responsibility of government.

The governor who made this disclosure while addressing newsmen today in Calabar on assumption of office added that he will not drop, sack or reduce appointments in the state.

In his words: “For obvious reasons anyone would have thought of reducing the number of political appointees, but I will not. Perhaps, I will rather increase the number because you must recognize the fact that some of these appointees do not have any other means of livelihoods. When you keep them out of their appointments, you send them back to the streets with enormous responsibilities.”

Continuing Ayade averred that: “We must provide for each other. The only thing that I will do that will be different is that the designations, roles and responsibilities will change. I will increase the appointment, expand the horizon but ensure that for every appointment, there is true value addition to the system. But I don’t intend to either drop, sack or reduce appointment. It is not acceptable because, it is the responsibility of government to create jobs particularly in Africa and carter for its citizenry. I will rather do redeployment than to say cutting staff.”

Fielding question on whether he would be able to actualize the signature projects he announced during his inauguration like the Calabar-Ikom, Ikom-Obudu dual carriage super high way and the sea port due to paucity of funds, he explained that: “Money is not the solution, it is the mind power, the intellect, that are the real solution and we are exploring all natural endowments to achieve all the signature projects already in the pipe line.”

Reacting on the haphazard resettlement program for Bakassi returnees executed by the Federal Government, the Governor pointed out that his administration will do everything humanly possible to ensure that the people feel the pulse of government through lofty initiatives that will be introduced.

‘I have concluded plans to train our young men on modern techniques of constructing low cost houses. A firm has been contacted already because we want to see to the provision of the housing needs of the citizenry especially the displaced people of Bakassi which is very paramount in partnership with the relevant federal government agencies. I am not going to wait for the Federal Government, I will commence the process of permanently resettling the people and I am confident that our President will support the course knowing what he stands for,” he added.