Gov Eno sues for accountability, innovation in public service
…swears in twelve new Permanent Secretaries
Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has charged the newly inaugurated Permanent Secretaries, as well as other public and civil servants in the State, to embrace a result-oriented approach to service rather than making excuses.
Speaking at the swearing-in ceremony of twelve new Permanent Secretaries at the Government House Banquet Hall, Uyo, he noted that as administrative heads of the ministries they would be assigned to, they should ensure the full implementation of the ARISE Agenda within their respective ministries.
The newly sworn-in Permanent Secretaries are Mrs. Grace Akpan, Mr. Emma Udonsek, Dr. Emmanuel Iton, Ignatius Ekwere, Mrs. Elsie Peters, Dr. Igbemi Igbemi, Mr. Edet Nsungwara, Dr. John Orok, Dr. Abraham Inyangudoh, Mrs. Rose Stephen, Mrs. Affiong Ebieme, and Dr. Friday Ido.
Governor Eno noted that the new appointments became necessary to reposition the service to ensure efficiency in government business towards the full implementation of his administration’s ARISE Agenda.
He congratulated the new Permanent Secretaries, who emerged by grace and dint of hard work, and charged them to see their appointment as an opportunity to serve the people diligently.
“We are a Government of doers, not of excuses. The people of Akwa Ibom State elected us to work for them; therefore, we have no room for excuses. This applies to everyone that works with me, from my executive members in the council, my aides, and all those whom grace has found to be part of this administration,” he stated.
He said his administration was poised to rejig its various agencies towards ensuring accountability and optimum returns on government investments to the people of the State, hence more of such appointments and reshuffling of parastatals should be expected.
The Governor directed that reports on government investments from all parastatals be made to the Akwa Ibom Investment Corporation, AKICORP, before the end of June 2024.
“In the last eleven months, we have worked very hard to lay the foundation of our governance blueprint, from Agricultural revolution to rural development, infrastructural development, advanced security management, and educational advancement.
“As we begin to take stock of our service to Akwa Ibom State in the last one year, it is important that we move to ensure that we put in place the right structure that will continue to help us grow as a State; that is what has informed this swearing-in today.
“We will reshuffle the Permanent Secretaries and assign them to different ministries to ensure fresh ideas, drive innovation, and uphold values in line with our key performance indicators,” he said.
Expressing regrets over the inability of some agencies handling state investments to avail the government of their management reports, the governor said his administration is poised to audit all its parastatals and agencies without fear or favor.
“Let me assure everyone that Government investments must yield dividends to Akwa Ibom people. I will not succumb to blackmail. We will review your operations; where we need to take action, we will take actions,” he assured.
The governor therefore charged the new appointees to work in collaboration with the Commissioners, heads of parastatal, and agencies they will be deployed to, ensuring smooth operations.
Speaking with Government House correspondents after the swearing-in, one of the appointees, Mrs. Grace Akpan, thanked Governor Umo Eno for finding her and her co-appointees worthy of elevation and for the opportunity to serve the State.
She promised that they would all bring their expertise and experience to bear in the execution of their duties.
