C-River Assembly Approves 5 New Aides For Gov Ayade

• Refers N2bn request to Finance Committee

BY EDMOND ODOK, ABUJA – Cross River State Governor, Professor Ben Ayade is certainly not slowing down on his administration’s expansionary public service policy as the State House of Assembly has approved his request for five new Special Advisers (SAs) in the state.

With a figure of over 2000 and still counting, Governor Ayade is reputed as the State Chief Executive with the highest number of aides and political appointees in the country 

The governor’s request was endorsed during the House plenary session following a correspondence received from the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Barrister Tina Banku Agbor.

The letter, addressed to the Speaker, had urged the lawmakers to grant Governor Ayade, ‘’consequential approval for the appointment of five additional Special Advisers in the State Public Service’’.

Commenting on the governor’s request, the lawmakers were delighted that the new appointments will no doubt boost and expand governance for the overall benefit of all Cross Riverians.

In another development, the lawmakers have mandated the House Committee on Finance and Appropriation to consider a request from the State Government seeking approval to, ‘’draw down the sum of Two Billion Naira from the Cross River Reserve Fund for intervention in the Education Sector’’.

The SSG, had in a letter to the State Assembly, indicated that the State Executive Council (SEC) approved that the withdrawal for the ‘’development and construction of Teachers’ Continuous Training Center (TCTC), Biase and upgrading of the State University, CRUTECH to enable the school offer/award Medical Science Degree’’
Speaking on the letter, the legislators applauded the State government’s move and described the purpose as ‘clear and laudable’.

According to them, the idea of a Teacher retraining institution as well as the upgrading of CRUTECH to include medical science degrees is laudable and should therefore be encouraged by all well-meaning citizens of the State.

In his remarks while referring the request to its Committee on Finance and Appropriation for in-depth study and consideration, Speaker John Gaul Lebo emphasized that proper oversight was required to ensure both projects are implemented and delivered successfully.