By: Ridwan Olanrewaju
Cross River State Governor Ben Ayade yesterday swore in a journalist, Timothy Ogbang Akwaji, as the head of service.
He is the first journalist in the state to be appointed to that position.
Akwaji was the editor and managing director of the state-owned newspaper, The Chronicle.
A consummate journalist, he was the vice-president (East), Nigerian Guild of Editors and also treasurer of the Guild.
Until his appointment, Akwaji was the Permanent Secretary, Cross River State Ministry of CIimate Change and International Development Corporation.
The Governor said, “I want this to be a lesson to all the Permanent Secretaries, that this is what the relationship between the permanent secretary and Commissioner 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.
“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, adding that he has full confidence in him.
Akwaji thanked the governor for appointing him, saying his appointment had excited the media community in Nigeria.
He said he will ensure that promotion in the civil service is based on productivity, adding that key performance indicators will be introduced and reckoned with before anybody gets promoted.
He promised to eliminate ghost workers adding “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.”
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