The Editor of Nigerian Chronicle, Comrade Oka Ibor, has been honoured with the 2025 Cross River State Government Best Service Award.
Ibor was presented the award certificate and Service Medal by the Secretary to the Government of Cross River State, Prof. Anthony Owan Enoh, during the celebration of the Civil/Public Service Day in the state, held at the U. J. Ensuene Stadium, Calabar, recently.
Speaking at the event, the state Head of Service, Obol (Dr.) Innocent Eteng, said the day was to celebrate the sacredness of the civil service in the state. Eteng explained that the award is to recognize civil servants in the state who have put in their best in service delivery through hard work and performance. He called on the beneficiaries to see the award as a call for more work.
The Head of Service commended the state governor, Prince Bassey Otu for his unwavering commitment to the welfare of workers in the state. He also thanked the governor for breaking the jinx of unemployment through the recruitment of more than 2,000 civil servants as well as approving the payment of N70,000 minimum wage and the introduction of the Retirement Entrepreneurship Development Initiative (REDI) Training and award of N500,000 grant to 500 beneficiaries.
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The state governor, Prince Bassey Otu thanked the civil servants for their hard work, dedication and commitment to duty, which has enhance the operations of the government.
Otu, who was represented by the deputy governor, Rt. Hon. Peter Odey, promised that all outstanding promotions would be implemented, while those due for promotion would be elevated. He also assured that the state government would soon embark on the payment of the second tranche of gratuities to affected retirees in the state.
The Secretary to the Government of Cross River State, Prof. Anthony Owan Enoh, advised civil servants to learn to love themselves to ensure efficient Service delivery in the state.
“Government can provide all the salaries, offices, necessary incentives and equipment, but where the civil servants are not happy it cannot work efficiently,” Enoh stated.
According to him, “the first step to re-engineer the system is to love one another.”
In his lecture, the Guest Lecturer, Rev. Fr. Bob Etta, advised civil servants to see themselves as contributing to God’s creation through their daily activities.
Highpoint of the celebration was the presentation of certificates of awards and service medals to the awardees.
