C'River Speaker Lobbies Otu For Reversal of Clerkship Appointment, As Former Assembly Staff Hails Service Commission Over Recommendation
By Ndifreke BASSEY
Amid the controversies trailing the appointment of Mr. Patrick.M. Edi as the new Clerk of the Cross River State House of Assembly, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Elvert Anyambem, had intensified moves lobbying Governor Bassey Otu to reverse the appointment.
A few days back, Governor Bassey Otu had announced Patrick Edi as the new Clerk in a circular from the office of the Secretary to State Government (SSG) Prof. Anthony Owan Enoh ahead of Barr. Catherine I.Ubi.
The appointment of Edi was sequel to the Cross River State Assembly Service Commission's decision led by its Chairman, Mr. Justin Ugbe, recommending that Edi be appointed based on seniority.
But Edi's appointment is being kicked against by the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Elvert Anyambem, who is said to be insisting that it negates the new Assembly Service Commission which empowers the House to appoint clerk.
Anyambem allegedly claims that Catherine has more experience than Edi and also that the resolution of Speakers Conference as well as the relying on the fact that the new Assembly Commission empowers the House to make input into the appointment of a Clerk.
Government House source confided in THE BEAGLES NEWS that the Speaker tried, at at the last meeting with the Governor, to convince him (Otu) to reverse the circular, but the Governor said he would rather revert to the Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General, Bar. Ededem Ani, for expert advice on the matter.
The source said the Governor May not reverse itself as wide consultations were done before announcing the new Clerk of the House, wondering what is the interest of the Speaker in appointment of the Clerk.
The source further revealed that the Speaker is being sympathetic to the Catherine, who happens to come Obubra in Central senational district where the Speaker also hails from, adding that Anyambem may be playing a script, which Otu may not know yet.
Hailing the Assembly Service Commission's decision, a former staff of the Legislature, Mr. Eyo Aye, said from what he knows about the service, due process was followed in appointing the most senior civil servant to head house administration.
Aye said: " Mr. Patrick M. Edi joined the Service of Cross River State in 1991 on Grade Level 8, while Barr. Catherine U. Ubi joined the Service in 1995 on Grade Level 10. And by the rules, Edi is the most senior and should head the Assembly as recommended by the Commission.
"No doubt, Catherine is a legal draftswoman is in the Assembly and she is there to advise Speaker and the Clerk on a new legislative matter as it affects the existing legislation already as a representative of the Attorney General in the House.
"This is because it is not everything that you run to the Attorney General for his advise. They are other minor advise he/ she can render by the legal draftsman in the House.
"While the total administration of the House is rested in the Clerk, who is a trained administrator on legislative matters. In other words, Edi is qualified to be the Clerk by other of service considering the fact that he was employed before Catherine.
" Even though they were promoted the same time, but Edi was first employed. Edi entered with a degree. I state that Edi should be given the office if Otu wants to remain in office because I foresee a gang up by the Speaker and a few lawmakers backing him.
"If the argument that is that the Speaker should in appoint the Speaker of the House based on the new Assembly Service Commission, then the House should do the right by appointing the most senior no matter the what.
"Besides, the Governor has not yet assented to the Cross River Assembly Service Commission Bill passed by the Legislature, and therefore is not yet an Act of the Parliament. I think there is more than meet the eye," he stated.
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