Akwa-Ibom Governor holds valedictory Session for outgoing Exco Members

A valedictory Executive Council meeting for the Commissioners and Special Adviser in the Akwa Ibom State Executive Council holds today.

The session will mark an end to the pioneer Executive Council of the Umo Eno led administration which came on board in July , 2023.

The dissolution of the state executive council (EXCO) will be followed by a valedictory dinner meant to hold at the State Banquet Hall by 7pm.

The EXCO which has spent a year and some months since 2023 was made up largely of former colleagues who served with him during the Udom Emmanuel administration.
Only the Commissioner for Internal Security, General Koko Essien was a new entrant into the exco, having been a honorary Special Adviser in the last administration.

An inside source has hinted that the Governor will likely have some Commissioners return back to EXCO with more fresh hands likely to be invited on board.

Pastor Eno is reported to have told his lieutenants that he wants to honour the Commissioners before their exit, rather than dump them as if they committed offenses by serving the State.

“What we are doing is akin to a football match where a coach makes some changes in order to inject fresh steam into the team. The other players who are substituted are still relevant to the team and can still be used subsequently to still add value to government,” a government source quoted the Governor.

Two commissioners had earlier resigned their appointments to contest in the last local government elections, while one, Engr Bassey Okon was sacked earlier last year.

Two new ministries and a bureau are to be added to the new cabinet. They include that of Youths as well as that of Humanitarian Affairs.

Meanwhile a bill for a Law to establish the Akwa Ibom State Bureau for ICT, Innovation and Emerging Technologies (AKBICT) has been passed into law by the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly.

The passage followed the adoption of the report of the House Committee on Science and Technology presented by its Chairman, Hon. Uduak Ekpo Ufot, during plenary on Thursday.

In his report, Hon. Ekpo-Ufot (Etinan State Constituency) said the objectives and the functions of the Bureau include, among others, to: “Co-ordinate, Own, Administer, Standardise, Strategically Plan, and Monitor all ICT related assets.

“Maintain and manage ICT related assets including but are not limited to: Domain Names, All Official Websites across the Executive, Legislative, Judiciary, Boards and Commissions, Local Government Councils, Parastatals, MDAs.

“Liaise with all Agencies, Bureaus and MDAs at the Federal and International levels such as Nigerian Communications Commission, National Information Technology Development Agency, The Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NIRA), Telecommunication, Media and Technology firms for AKSG tech-related discourses.

“Create a framework for the planning, research, development, standardisation, application, coordination, monitoring, evaluation and regulation of information technology practices, activities and systems in the State and all matters related thereto and without derailing from the generality of the foregoing shall include providing universal access for information technology and system penetration in rural, urban and under-served areas.”

The list of the new commissioners are expected to be sent to the House of Assembly next week by the Governor.

A cross section of Akwa Ibom people are optimistic that the Governor will put forward a formidable team to drive his ARISE agenda to success. Mr. Bright Udom who gave his opinion noted that “the cabinet reshuffle is a welcome development and I thank Gov. Umo Eno for his
leadership so far. The commissioners who may be dropped should know that they can still be called upon in future to serve the Government, so it’s a win -win situation for all. Its just like a football match where some good players are substituted but they are still part of the team. “Everyone is waiting to see the new commissioner of youths because the Governor has always re-emphasized that that he will appoint someone very young and vibrant this time around. So we are all waiting to see the surprise, we are delighted”.