Disquiet In C'River As Assembly Clerk Exceeds Retirement Age In Office

By Ekanem Asuquo

There are growing concerns in Cross River state over the legal validity of laws emanating from the State House of Assembly given the status of the clerk who has continued to remain in office despite his official retirement date of September 22, 2023 

Findings by The Beagle News revealed that the Clerk, Mr Dominic Akiba, who hails from Odukpani Local Government Area, same as Governor Bassey Otu was billed to officially retire from service on September 22 on age grounds, having attained the mandatory 60 years set by extant laws and public service rules as the retirement age for public servants in the state and country, outside the education sector.

Instead of bowing out to pave the way for his deputy, Barrister Catherine Ubi to take over the mantle as the new clerk in line with the public service procedural routine, Mr Akiba is alleged to be pulling every string at his disposal, especially his tribal affinity with Governor Bassey Otu to perpetuate himself in office in flagrant disregard to service rules. 

Mr Dominic Akiba, posing with the key of the official vehicle recently handed over to him as Clerk of the CRSHA by the Speaker, Hon. Elvert Ayambem

Further probes by The Beagles News indicate that already, the development
is causing ripples amongst stakeholders who believe strongly that the impunity will impinge negatively on the integrity of statutory functions of the Assembly with an illegal principal officer heading the administrative cadre.

Speaking to The Beagle News during a telephone conversation, a legal practitioner and retired deputy director from the federal ministry of foreign affairs, Dr Patrick    Bassey described the development as "an illegality with dire consequences for the Assembly and the public service. 

The retired technocrat opined that; "In the face of the law, any document with the signature of Mr. Dominic Akiba with effect from September 23, 2023, is null and void"

According to him, " It's a pity that the bastardization of the state public service instigated by the last administration headed by Ayade for ulterior motives has continued unabated irrespective of the unsavory implications and negative precedents"

He explained further " The civil service is programmed to guarantee seamless progression to promote utmost service delivery on the part of the staff in terms of set objectives. Once the process is truncated by the privileged few to deny others their rights, it breeds bad blood, contempt, and acrimony thereby setting a negative precedent with a corrosive effect on the entire system, affecting both the foundation and structure of the Service"

"Though the governor or president has the prerogative to extend the tenure of the highest ranked officer in an establishment for undisclosed reasons, the action must be taken before the retirement date and duly backed by a statutory proclamation. 
The case in Cross River Assembly where a retired clerk is still in office  merely because he's the Governor's kinsman is an aberration"

Commenting on the issue, a serving member of the Cross River 10th Assembly who opted for anonymity, frowned at the issue and stated that such a level of injustice will not stand and should not be tolerated in the service.

In the words of the lawmaker," It is provoking that each time a woman, having paid her dues is billed to assume the pinnacle of her career in Cross River state, we resort to a litany of illegality to frustrate her. We witnessed the ugly scenario in the build-up to the emergence of Justice Akon Ikpeme as the Chief Judge of our state. I hope the Federation of Women Lawyers, FIDA, Basic Rights Counsel Initiative, and women's rights groups will rise to protect the interests of Barrister Catherine Ubi in this matter"

"This is one case too many where Clerks of the Assembly in the state since after Ntufam Achort Okon have preferred to sit tight in office, thereby dislocating the entire lineup, statutory responsibilities and denying those who follow them in line of authority their rights and privileges" he added.