Tag: Prince Bassey Otu

CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM OF GOVERNMENT
Administration and Accounting: An Essential prerequisite of Participatory Democracy.

On 4th of November 2023, a publication captioned “Policy Alert Chides Cross River State Government over Disbursement to the Office of staff, Neglect of key Sectors” appeared online, published by a news outlet called “The Investigator”.

The publishers of the article reviewed the third quarter expenditure of the Cross-River State Government led by His Excellency Prince Bassey Edet Otu and highlighted or made the following weighty allegations:

1. That the expenditure of the office of the Chief of Staff (COS) which is personal to the Governor is prioritized over key sectors of the state.

2. That other sectors, namely health, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) humanity and social welfare had zero capital releases while office of COS had 25% of all funds released.

3. That spending 5.7bn for office of Chief of Staff out of 23.21bn disbursement is a red flag.

4. That in second quarter of 2023 (April to June 2023) “the office of COS spent 11.9bn”.

5. That contrary to campaign promises made by His Excellency Prince Bassey Edet Otu to reduce cost of governance, 16.09bn RECURRENT EXPENDITURE was made, which is 125 times higher than capital expenditure of 7.12bn for the period.

6. That as a result of five (5) above, human and infrastructure development was not prioritized by the current administration and

7. That Cross River State House of Assembly had zero funds released for personnel, overhead and Capital expenditure, within the quarter, hence a deliberate attempt to frustrate the oversight functions of this arm of government.

Ordinarily, a rebuttal to this publication wouldn’t have been necessary but in line with the transparency promised by His Excellency, Prince Bassey Edet Otu, we are compelled by objectivity and the desire to build a better Cross River State as follows:

1. That the period under review 3rd quarter which spans from July to September is the first of four crucial months in the tenure of a new administration, as appointments into
numerous offices are made by the Governor. The first of these appointments includes the appointment of the COS as well as the Secretary to Government. These two officers are essential hubs in the wheels of governance, as expenditure to kick start the government is generally channeled through them. Such expenditure includes purchase of official vehicles and renovation of offices as well as security and other key essential services.

2. It is manifest falsehood and gross distortion of facts for any rational person to state that parts of essential services like health, water and environmental sanitation, humanity
and social welfare were neglected and had zero allocation of funds. The State of Environmental sanitation in the entire state and in the state capital in particular, was in an indescribable state, as refuse heaps was almost taking over all public roads by the end of last administration. The situation warranted a declaration of a state of
emergency, and major investment in heavy duty equipment’s and trucks for refuse evacuation were purchased through the office of COS by the administration. Robust investment was also made in rural health care. Security as part of social services also
received a boost as the fight against kidnapping and Cultism has reduced this menacing activity to the minimum.

3. Above expenses are parts of the initial expenses incurred by the Government, in the 3rd Quarter under review as part of its social programme and consequently the classification of these services and expenditure incurred therein as red flag is
reprehensible.

4. It is an absurd claim made in bad faith to highlight that “in the second quarter of 2023, this office (COS) spent 11.9 bn.” The current administration commenced from May 29th 2023, which ironically was the tail end of the second quarter. The current chief of
staff was appointed on 6th June 2023 and consequently, couldn’t have spent monies at a point where he was not in office. In retrospect, if 11.9bn was spent to wind up a government in the second quarter, ‘Governor Ayade’s tenure) an expenditure of 5.7bn
in the 3rd quarter, to felicitate future governance in a state, where social services were totally neglected, shows transparency and the desire to run a frugal government.

5. The allegations that human and infrastructure development was not prioritized in the 3rd quarter expenditure as recurrent expenditure gulped a whopping 16.09bn is   unfounded criticism premised on bias and ignorance of the meaning of this sub head. Recurrent expenditure from elementary knowledge of economics includes but isn’t limited to crucial areas of needs such as security, House of Assembly running cost, public debt servicing, personnel cost and emoluments, pensions and gratuity in all Arms of Government, as well as contingency and subvention. A review of 2023 budget passed by the immediate past government shows that personnel and overhead cost gulped 118.96bn while capital expenditure was 225. 75bn. 16.09bn spent in the 3rd quarter of this year is part of the fraction earlier budgeted by the Ayade led government for this
fiscal year.

6. Finally, “Policy Alert” called on the state Governor to explain why the State Assembly had Zero releases of funds for personnel, overhead and Capital expenditure and that this is an attempt by the Executive arm to frustrate oversight functions of this arm of
Government. For those of us who understand the intricacies involved in government administration, this call for explanation is not just frivolous but is an attempt to instigate the legislative arm of government and the populace against the current government.
The State House of Assembly cannot function for a day without appropriate funding as an arm of government. The Assembly from the 12th June 2023, when it was inaugurated has carried out its constitutional duties without interference from the executive arm. Of particular note, the Assembly had carried out the screening of
commissioners appointed by the Governor in August, held regular sitting to debate on issues of urgent public attention, facilitated the presentation of the 2024 budget estimates on 30th of Oct 2023 in line with state Law, Passed the Cross-River State Contributory Pensions Law and forwarded same to the Governor for his assent. Amongst a host of other legislative assignments, the Assembly had debated upon and approved a request by His Excellency Prince Bassey Edet Otu, for a loan of two billion naira to clear outstanding debt incurred by the last administration, for purchase of official vehicles and for an additional 2-billion-naira loan to purchase official vehicles for members of the Assembly and State Executive Council. These vehicles, the governor stated in the correspondence, is to facilitate official oversight functions of honorable members of the assembly.

From the foregoing detailed explanation, we conclude that it is an egregious abuse of the right of fair and constructive criticism for the Policy Alert to attempt to discredit the Current Government without proper research and interview with relevant government officials. The freedom of information Act has granted access to public documents that were hitherto classified. Prince Bassey Edet Otu’s leadership is one that is out to ensure accountability, objectivity and service delivery to our people.

Mr. Tom Johnson
Signed by
3rd Force in Support of Good Governance

In a remarkable declaration, Cross River State Governor, Sen. Prince Bassey Edet Otu, commended the Cross River Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for its significant contribution to the state’s revenue growth. The governor revealed that through its renewed revenue drive, the State IRS had elevated the state’s internally generated revenue profile by an impressive 21%. This achievement was recognized during the 2024 Budget Presentation forum, where the governor delivered his speech, emphasizing the people-first approach in the state’s fiscal planning.

“Presently, the State IRS, through its renewed revenue drive, has increased the state’s internally generated revenue profile by 21%. This is a commendable feat,” said Governor Otu.

He congratulated Prince Edwin Okon, the Acting Executive Chairman of the Cross River Internal Revenue Service, for the significant achievement and urged the agency to double this percentage in 2024. Governor Otu emphasized the importance of addressing revenue leakages and harnessing revenue-generating opportunities across various government ministries and departments.

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The governor’s commendation highlights the State IRS’s dedication to increasing the state’s revenue base and its contribution to the state’s socio-economic development.

The 2024 Budget, titled “The People First Budget,” places a strong emphasis on infrastructure development, education, health, environment, agriculture, youth and sports development, tourism, and general administration, all aimed at improving the lives of Cross Riverians.

This commendation comes as Cross River State continues its drive to harness its full revenue potential and maintain a people-centered approach to governance and development.

By Christian Njoku

Governor Bassey Otu has commenced the symbolic distribution of palliatives in Cross River adding that the exercise which commenced in Calabar had no political colouration.

Otu made the assertion on Tuesday evening in Calabar in the presence of different groups who had earlier been identified and listed by a Palliative Sharing Committee setup by the governor.

Represented by his deputy, Mr. Peter Odey, the governor said he was confident of the palliative sharing committee headed by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Anthony Owan-Enoh to do the needful.

“This distribution is not about the All Progressive Congress (APC), People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Labour Party (LP) or any other political party but for the people of Cross River.

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“Apart from adding N500 million to what we were given by the Federal Government, the government of the state has also added N10,000 to the salaries of all the civil servants which they have already started receiving from September.

“So, I appeal to everyone present in this distribution not to fight or struggle as every group has been captured and will get what is due them,” he said.

He also appealed to the groups to ensure that the palliatives collected gets to their members in the rural areas adding that, they were in need of the palliatives more.

Similarly, Owan-Enoh said the palliative distribution would be based on equity and fairness, nothing that it was why the distribution was done in the open.

He however added that only the Youth Council of Nigeria, Cross River chapter would receive their share of the palliative, which was 100 bags of rice in the symbolic flag off of palliative distribution in the state.

He said for other groups, they need to go back to their offices and draw a structured plan of how their palliatives would be be distributed from top to least persons in other Local Government Areas.

“For today, we will only give to the youth council of Nigeria, they have brought their colleagues from the 18 LGAs because we insisted they must do so.

“For other groups, the distribution won’t be done today, we will go back to our office and whatever group that gives us a structure of how they will share their palliative from top to bottom will be given a pass.

“That pass qualifies the group to approach the warehouse and we wil monitor the distribution to the group in the presence of its members,” he said.

Appreciating the governor for the exercise, Mr Gregory Olayi, State Chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress, (NLC) appealed for equitable distribution of the palliatives in the 18 LGAs of the state.

(NAN)

The Governor of Cross River State, Sen. Bassey Otu, has expressed his administration’s readiness to partner with the management of the Margaret Ekpo International airport, Calabar, to resume international flights.

The governor disclosed this when he received the manager of the airport, Mr. Ayinla Gbolahan, in his office in Calabar, Thursday.

“There was a time the Calabar Airport used to fly international routes, at least to nearby countries like Malabor and the rest, but the reverse is now the case. That situation must change.

“We are ready and willing to work with you in anyway possible to ensure that we change the face of that airport by partnering with the relevant federal government agencies. I know very well that the Margaret Ekpo Airport in no distant time will not be able to accommodate the influx of people who will come into the state either for business or leisure.

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“For any meaningful progress to take place in a state, it is important to get an effective and efficient air travel system in place and by the grace of God, we will achieve that. I have heard your requests, I promise to look into some of them that are within our capacity and purview,” the governor said.

Earlier, the manager of the Margaret Ekpo International Airport, Mr. Ayinla Gbolahan, congratulated the governor on his victory at the just concluded polls and pleaded for his support to reposition the airport.

The visit, he said, is to seek the state government’s support to reposition the airport, noting security, power supply as priorities amongst others.

The delegation included other top management staff of the airport.

…Swears-in Eteng as Head of Service

Cross River Governor, Senator Bassey Otu has assured civil servants of his administration’s commitment to improving their welfare and the working conditions in the workforce as well as clearing backlog of retirees’ gratuities before the end of the year.

Otu, who made the commitment, today, during the swearing-in ceremony of Dr. Innocent Eteng as the new Head of Service of Cross River State, said “It is saddening that someone would serve for 35 years, save for a rainy day, and then die for lack of cash to attend to their health needs,” insisting that “such ugly trend must stop.”

Continuing, the governor said: “We want the civil servants to be focused in their places of assignment, knowing that their contributory pension is due them at the end of the day. Because without these people, continuity in governance would not be possible.”

The governor, who acknowledged the depletion of personnel especially the older and more experienced ones in the service, informed that his administration was looking for a way to retain some of those retirees in order to mentor and transfer knowledge to the younger generation of civil servants.

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Congratulating the new Head of Service, Governor Otu reminded him that, “To whom much is given, much is expected. You are coming at a very precarious time where the state civil service is at the brink. We want you to rejig and put things in proper perspectives.”

“Dr. Eteng, we want to build a smart civil service. You will understand that we do not play politics with civil servants. The bureaucracy is very important as the engine of government, so we want you to rejig and put it in proper perspectives. Due process must be prioritised at all times,” the governor said.

Expressing belief in the newly sworn-in Head of Service, the governor enjoined him to take charge and deliver to the best of his ability for the betterment of the service and the state at large.

He further assured the HoS of his administration’s support towards the service, saying “my doors would be open to you at all times.”

Earlier, the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Anthony Owan Enoh, said Dr. Eteng, who until his appointment was serving in the SSG’s office as Permanent Secretary, is someone who has risen to the echelon of the civil service not by sponsorship, but by achievement and dint of hard work.

He described him as a man of intellect, robust, energetic, charismatic, fearless, hardworking and sound, whose appointment is so well-deserved, expressing confidence in his ability to improve the civil service and bureaucracy of the state.

In his response, the newly sworn-in Head of Service, Dr. Innocent Eteng, thanked the governor for finding him worthy of the onerous assignment of recalibrating and reforming the state civil service, assuring of his best.