Fear has gripped commissioners in Akwa Ibom State as Governor Umo Eno holds a valedictory executive council to dissolve the cabinet.
Eno, who succeeded former Governor Udom Emmanuel, inherited all the commissioners and advisers appointed by the former governor.
Speaking during the valedictory exco meeting today, Governor Umo Eno praised them for contributing their quota to the development of the state.
“For me, if you were to be changed based on non-performance, I think none of the commissioners would go.
“All of you have delivered and that’s why the Arise Agenda has succeeded.
“But we must come to the end of a season, start another season, and keep moving.”
The governor had indicated to dissolve the cabinet last year during the 37th anniversary of the state but did not say when it would be carried out.
Some of the commissioners have been in office for close to ten years, as some of them served with former Governor Godswill Akpabio in office.
It was gathered that the commissioners and advisers were retained to allow the present governor to ‘compensate them for the services they rendered since they were not rewarded by the time the last administration came to an end on May 29, 2023.”
Sources have also confirmed that the commissioners last week received a “favourable handshake” from Eno, paving the way for their tenure to come to an end.
“Umo Eno inherited all the commissioners from his predecessor except the Commissioner for Internal Security General Koko Essien (retd), appointed to head the newly created Ministry of Internal Security.
“Those commissioners are still there. The governor lacks the political will to dissolve the cabinet, even after he had publicly said he would do so.”
Two commissioners from the Ministry of Special Duties and Environment exited the state exco last year.
Chief Unoh Etim Unoh, who was the commissioner for environment but resigned to contest the local government election in Urue Offong Uruko, has yet to be replaced, while Dr Bassey Okon, who was sacked by the state government, has not been replaced either.
Speaking during the Thanksgiving service on January 2, Eno had criticized his commissioners for claiming that there was “nothing beneficial in government yet they were not willing and ready to resign.”
He said the commissioners were like a nagging housewife who would say her marriage was not worth the while but has had seven children while still in the marriage.
The state government is also scheduled to organize a dinner night for the outgoing members of the state executive council.
