Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, is set to announce the dissolution of the executive council today, Friday, January 10, 2025.
Tribune reports that there is palpable fear among commissioners, as Eno may likely send members appointed by his predecessor packing.
Eno, who succeeded former Governor Udom Emmanuel, inherited all the commissioners and advisers appointed by the former governor.
Last year, during a media briefing in September to mark the 37th anniversary of the state, Eno announced that the State Executive Council would be dissolved to pave the way for another set of professionals to bring new ideas into governance.
It is common knowledge that some of the commissioners have been in office for nearly ten years, as some served when former Governor Godswill Akpabio was in office.
Sources close to the governor’s office have disclosed that the valedictory council meeting scheduled for today will mark the dissolution of the state executive council.
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 when the last administration came to an end on May 29, 2023.”
Sources have also confirmed that the commissioners received a “favorable handshake” from Eno last week, 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), who was 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 publicly stated he would do so.”
Two commissioners from the Ministry of Special Duties and the Ministry of Environment exited the state executive council last year.
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Speaking during the Thanksgiving service on January 2, Eno criticized his commissioners for claiming that there was “nothing beneficial in government,” yet they were not willing or ready to resign.
He said the commissioners were like a nagging housewife who would say her marriage was not worth the while but had seven children while still in the marriage.
At the valedictory Executive Cabinet Meeting on Friday, the governor stated: “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 state government is also scheduled to organize a dinner night for the outgoing members of the state executive council.
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