Gov. Otu sets up committee to review appointment of Permanent Secretaries

Gov. Otu sets up committee to review appointment of Permanent Secretaries

By Victor Udu 

Cross River Governor, Senator Bassey Otu has set up a committee to review the appointment of Permanent Secretaries in the State civil service.

The Committee is headed by Dr. Aye Henshaw, a serving Permanent Secretary, and has the responsibility to sanitize the process and weed out all those who do not meet the requisite qualification for the office.

Prof. Anthony Owan-Enoh, Secretary to the state government said in a meeting with Permanent Secretaries, weekend, that it was only proper that the appointments be made in accordance with the civil service recommendations. 

The Secretary to government also directed that henceforth no further extension of service beyond your retirement date, insisting that people must vacate when they retire from service.

Information reaching the Beagle News today says it was a sad day for all those who had cut corners to realize the dream of getting the top appointment, as government says it would do all within its powers to right the wrongs and give the service a befitting out look.

Recall that the appointments have been encapsulated with discrepancies and remained a subject of statewide discourse from the beginning, as many condemned the selection made, saying that as far as the civil service was concerned most lacked merit and were done on grounds of personal consideration.

It is alleged that in many instances those appointed were promoted from Level 14 to 17 to get the appointment while their mates without tentacles in the service remained stagnated. It is summed up as a reward for loyalty to Governor Ben Ayade and his cronies.

A source close to government told Beagle News that move is a welcome development and thanked Governor Otu for the bold step.

Meanwhile the Secretary to government has not responded to calls to confirm the report and the Head of Service, Mr Ogbang Akwaji is yet to comment on the issue, but those who suspect they might suffer pain from that decision are calling on stakeholders to swiftly intervene.