Gov. Liyel Imoke of Cross River on Monday announced the indefinite suspension of seven commissioners, 13 Special Advisers for absenting themselves from an important public function.
A statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Michael Aniah, said that the governor approves the suspension of the cabinet members for failure to attend the state’s World’s AIDS Day anniversary walk on Sunday, Dec.1.
The four-Kilometre World AIDS Day walk, which also heralded the flag-off of the state’s Annual Calabar Festival Dec.1, was attended by Imoke and other cabinet members.
The statement said the affected officials included the Commissioner for Justice, Attah Ochinke; the Commissioner for Finance, Etim Takis Caifas; the Commissioner for Women Addairs, Edak Iwuchukwu; and the Commissioner for Social Welfare, Patricia Endeley.
Others are the Commissioner for Environment, Dr Sandy Onor; the Commissioner for Agriculture, James Aniyom and the Commissioner for Water Resources, Elemi Etowa.
The Special Advisers affected included those on Project Monitoring and Evaluation, Eja Dons Eseghe; Tourism, Wilfred Usani; Religious Affairs, Eyo Okpo Ene; Special Duties; 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, Fred Osim; Special Adviser, Legal, Mark Obi, were also affected.
Also affected were the Special Adviser, NGO, Margaret Johnson Ebokp; Special Adviser on ICT, Odo Effiong and the Special Adviser on Mineral Resources, Effiong Bassey.
The Adviser, Strategy and Planning, Prof. Idem Temple and the Special Adviser on Debt Management, Francisca Nkoyo Effiong were also suspended.
The statement 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.