GOV. IMOKE SUSPENDS SEVEN COMMISSIONERS FORFAILING TO ATTEND EVENT

About 20 cabinet members in Cross River State, were yesterday,
suspended indefinitely by Governor Liyel Imoke, for failure to attend
an important public function.
This is contained in a statement signed Monday by the Secretary to the
State Government, Mr Michael Aniah.
According to the statement, the State Governor approved the suspension
of seven commissioners and 13 special advisers, for failure to attend
the World's AIDS Day Anniversary Walk on Sunday.
The the four-Kilometre World AIDS Day walk, which also herald the
flag-off of the state's Annual Calabar Festival on December 1, was
attended by Imoke and some cabinet members .
According to the statement the affected officials included the
Commissioner for Justice, Mr Attah Ochinke; Commissioner for Finance,
Etim Takis Caifas; Commissioner for Women, Mrs Edak Iwuchukwu; and the
Commissioner for Social Welfare, Mrs Patricia Endeley.
The Commissioner for Environment, Dr Sandy Onor, Commissioner for
Agriculture, Mr James Aniyom and Commissioner for Water Resources, Mr
Elemi Etowa, were also affected.
Others are the Special Adviser on Project Monitoring and Evaluation,
Mr Eja Dons Eseghe; Special Adviser on Tourism, Mr Wilfred Usani,
Special Adviser on Religious Affairs; Eyo Okpo Ene; Special Adviser
on Special Duties; Mr Fabian Okpa.
The Special Adviser Forestry and Biodiversity, Ntufam Gabe Odu-Oji;
Special Adviser on Investment, Dr Gerald Adah; Special Adviser,
Political and Legislative Matters, Mr Fred Osim; Special Adviser
Legal, Mr Mark Obi, were also affected.
Others are Special Adviser, NGO, Mrs. Margaret Johnson Ebokpo, Special
Adviser on ICT, Mr Odo Effiong; and Special Adviser on Mineral
Resources; Mr Effiong Bassey.
Others are the Special Adviser Strategy and Planning, Professor Idem
Temple and Special Adviser on Debt Management, Mrs Francisca Nkoyo
Effiong.
The announcement directed the affected cabinet members to hand over to
their permanent secretaries or the most senior officers in their
respective Ministries and Departments and Agencies.