Udeme Utip, Author at Tribune Online

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has pledged his readiness to work with Federal Civil Servants of Akwa Ibom State extraction in bringing more developments to the state, irrespective of party affiliation. The Governor made the pledge during an interactive session with Federal Commissioners, the Permanent Secretary, and Directors at the Akwa Ibom State Liaison Office, Abuja, yesterday. The Governor emphasised that he was ready and free to interact with his people, assuring that he would create time to attend to things that would be beneficial to the people of the state. He further encouraged Akwa Ibom indigenes who are occupying top positions at the Federal level to use their positions to bring about life-transforming projects back home. Responding to comments raised during the interactive session, the governor maintained that his administration will provide adequate accommodation to Akwa Ibom indigenes working with the Federal Civil Service as well as partner with the Akwa Ibom Community in Abuja to start a small housing scheme that will enable indigenes resident in the FCT to have affordable accommodation. Speaking about the impending census exercise in the country, Gov. Eno promised to collaborate with the National Population Census to achieve a successful census at the state level. “For the A.R.I.S.E. Agenda to take root in our State, we must keep promoting our brands”, he said, in reference to Ibom Air, which he used to embark on the trip, adding that his administration is setting out new model schools and improving primary healthcare systems in the state. He further mentioned that the A.R.I.S.E. Agenda will set up a leadership and entrepreneurial development centre, adding that the industrial park will become a beehive of activities ranging from fashion to shoe hubs in the state. Gov. Eno thanked everyone for coming out and implored the Akwa Ibom people to be proud of the State God has given us. The Governor also called for the deepening of the spirit of togetherness and to support his administration in making Akwa Ibom a better place. Earlier in his welcome remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Finance, Mr. Okokon Ekanem Udo, commended the Governor for his initiative in meeting with them, saying it was the first of its kind since their appointments into the federal civil service and the FCT. Mr Ekanem applauded Governor Eno, noting that the gesture has given them a sense of belonging and recognition and also rekindled and reinforced their commitment to making a useful contribution to the success of the present administration. Ekanem said, "Some people have come because they believe in you and are ready to work with you. He thanked his colleagues for turning out in massive numbers to receive and support the Governor's A.R.I.S.E. Agenda. Others who spoke at the event were Dr Tommy Etim Okon, President, Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, ASCSN, who appreciated His Excellency's humility and for keeping to his promise, which he made during his campaign at the Akwa Ibom Community. According to him," the Governor has given us another name, which is to say that we are proud people to have a humble Governor". Mrs Anietie Enobong Umoessien, a director at the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment, Directorate of Industrial Inspectorate, urged the state government to put efforts into reducing unemployment in the state, which she acknowledged is not totally specific to the state alone. She advised that proper sustainability plans be put in place for the growth of industries and proper awareness be created to attract investments, and she suggested commitment, continuity, monitoring, and evaluation as indices for sustainability and growth. In his statement, the Director of Fisheries and Aquaculture of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Ime Umoh, said that Akwa Ibom State has a lot to explore in terms of fishing potential, and the state should be interested in owning a fishing trowel across the coastal region. Dr Umoh hinted that the Federal Ministry of Agriculture has donated one patrol boat to the Akwa Ibom State government to enable the patrol team to monitor the coastal line for pirate activities and that the boat will be released to the state government on August 17. Dr Simon Etim, Commissioner in the Federal Civil Service Commission, decried situations where employed indigenes who come to Abuja resign when faced with accommodation issues and return to the state. Chief Engr. Benedict Ukpong, FNSE Federal Commissioner, National Population Census, said in his contribution that census data is very useful in actualizing revenue mobilisation and stated that the state should set up a security committee for the successful actualization of the census and be ready to support it. Barr. Aniefiok Ibah, President of Akwa Ibom Community Abuja, thanked the Governor for coming to Abuja to meet with this cadre of civil servants. "Your Excellency, you have systematically dehumanised power and politics in Akwa Ibom State, and the people are happy. The Akwa Ibom people are very interested in the success of your administration", Ibah stated. He further requested that Gov. Eno establish the office of the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Inter-governmental Relations in Abuja to ease the promotion of cooperation and foster inter-governmental relations between the state government and the federal civil service. With the Governor at the event was the Secretary to the State of Government, Prince Enobong Uwah; the Head of the Civil Service Commission, Elder Effiong Essien; the Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Sir Monday Ebong Uko; and the Commissioner of Finance, Dr Linus Nkan. Others were Dr Offiong Offor, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development; Mr Emem Almond Bob, Ministry of Economic Development; Dr Enobong Umoessien, President of the Akwa Ibom League of Professionals; and the Director of the private sector at the ECOWAS Commission, Abuja. Present at the meeting were four Federal Commissioners, a Permanent secretary, and over 80 directors, deputy directors, and Assistant Directors in the federal civil service. They also included Dr Dora Ebong, Commissioner of the Federal Character Commission; Mr Sunny Anyang, Commissioner of the Federal Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation, and Fiscal Commission; Brig. Gen. Obot Obot, Director of the Defence Intelligence Agency, Abuja; and the Liaison Office's Mr. Edwin James, among others. 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