Ayade Swears in Journalist as Head of Service

The Cross River State Governor, Mr. Ben Ayade, yesterday swore in a journalist, Mr. Timothy Ogbang Akwaji, as the state’s new Head of Service. He is the first journalist to be so appointed.

Akwaji was variously editor and managing director of the state-owned newspaper, the Chronicle.

A consummate journalist, he was Vice President, East, Nigerian Guild of Editors and also its financial secretary.

Until his appointment as Head of Service, Akwaji was Permanent Secretary, Cross River State Ministry of Climate Change and International Development Corporation ( MIDC) respectively.

Ayade, who spoke at the swearing-in ceremony that was held at the Executive Council Chamber of the Governor’s Office, Calabar, commended the new Head of Service for a harmonious working relationship with Commissioners of the various Ministries, especially, Dr Inyang Asibong, Commissioner for MIDC, where he served as Permanent Secretary.

He said: “I want this to be a lesson to all the Permanent Secretaries that this is what the relationship between a permanent secretary and commissioners should be.

“Within the short period of their working together, they have bonded to the point that she could cite his citation without almost reading it.”

Ayade noted that “it shows clearly that the cleavage that divides us is far seen than the ones that unite us. It shows that a commissioner who has a good attitude and conduct can bring his or her Permanent Secretary so close that they become one.”

He described the new head of service as a distinguished scholar, a researcher, a fellow, an outstanding double masters’ degree holder in science genetics, management, public administration, as well as in journalism, a distinguished man in terms of attitude, integrity, character, honour and value.

“I know you are self-charged. This is the first time I am swearing-in a permanent secretary without giving a charge because I believe that you will know the right thing to do,” Ayade said.

Responding, Akwaji expressed gratitude to the governor for appointing him, saying his appointment had excited the media community in Nigeria.

He assured the governor that as head of service, he will work conscientiously to drive productivity in the Cross River State’s civil service.

“I will work with the Civil Service Commission and the Local Government Service Commission, two institutions of the service that are responsible for recruitment, promotion and discipline so that the two services would work smoothly and harmoniously with an aim to providing the key points upon which the laudable policies of government can seamlessly be implemented,” Akwaji said.

He pledged to ensure that promotion in the civil service is based on productivity as key performers indicators would be introduced and reckoned with before anybody gets promoted.

He said: “We will try as much as possible to reconcile the nominal roll with the payroll so that Cross River State that has challenges of funds will not accommodate any criminal process in the payroll.”

Akwaji said there was need to reflate the workforce owing to the excision of Akwa Ibom from Cross River, which left the state with depleted personnel who are at their various stages of retirement.