Gov. Otu Suspends Assembly Commission Over Ill Advise, Reverses Clerk Appointment

By Victor UDU 

Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River state has directed the immediate suspension of the operations of the Cross River Assembly Commission for delibrately misleading the Governor on the àppointment of substantive clerk for the State House of Assembly.

A letter emanating from the office of the Secretary to Government, Prof. Anthony Owan Enoh conveying the Governor's directive to the Assembly stated that the suspension has become imperative owing to failure of the Commission to advise the Governor correctly on a service matter touching the appointment of a Substantive Clerk for the Assembly.

According to the letter " The unfortunate outcome was His Excellency the Governor's misguided selection of Mr Patrick Edi as Clerk over Mrs Catherine Ubi and the ripple effect this has caused."

Consequently, the Governor has withdrawn Patrick Edi's appointment and appointed Catherine Ubi Esq. as the substantive Clerk of the 10th Assembly.

The letter dated 18, March, 2024 further aveered that the reversal of the appointment was based on the fact that the critical criterion for seniority was not highlighted or even made reference to in the recommendations forwarded by the Commission to the governor.

The letter pointed out that though Mr Patrick Edi was employed before Mrs Ubi, The attainment of director's cadre predicated on relevant superior qualifications and administrative acumen by Barr. Ubi supercede the earlier entry date argument mounted by the Commission in favour of Edi.

 Findings confirmed that the new government position is in line with the public service rule which places a premium on the record of seniority progression in service rather than recruitment date.

Recall that THE BEAGLE NEWS had pointed out these anomalies in a story published last Friday, March 15, titled "Face-off Looms As Gov Otu, Speaker Collide Over Assembly Clerkship".

In the story, the Speaker Rt. Hon Ayambem had insisted on Catherine's appointment as Clerk based on Civil Service Rules.