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Tag: Cross River

  • 2023: Labour Party to refund nomination fees to aspirants in Cross River

    2023: Labour Party to refund nomination fees to aspirants in Cross River

    Cross River chapter of the  Labour Party  has called on all councillorship and local government chairmanship aspirants to come for a refund of nomination fees paid into its account following Tuesday’s cancellation of the LG polls initially billed to hold this year.

    This announcement was made by the Chairman of Cross River State Independent Electoral Commission (CROSIEC), Dr Mike Ushie, on Friday in the state.

    Ushie announced that due to paucity of funds, the election has been postponed to May 2023.

    Speaking in Calabar Friday, the Chairman of the Labour Party, Ambassador Ogar Osim said there was no need for the party to tie down such money whereas the owners could have better and immediate needs for them presently.

    “Unlike in other parties where the issue of refund of the money has sparked big problems, we are a people-friendly party and do understand the plights and wants of the people.

    “We have invited all the councillor and chairmanship candidates in our party to come forward and collect their money. We cannot tie down people’s money. They may have more urgent needs for the money before the envisaged time. But no one is sure if in May next year it would hold.”

  • Gov. Ayade locks out Govt House workers for lateness

    Gov. Ayade locks out Govt House workers for lateness

    Hundreds of workers were on Wednesday locked out of Government House office by Gov. Ben Ayade of Cross River for lateness.

    Newsmen reports that the governor, who arrived at the office at 8 a.m., was surprised to see that many of the civil servants were not on seat.

    Ayade immediately ordered for the opening of a  register and asked the Chief Security Officer to lock the gate against any late-coming worker thereafter.

    Newsmen reports that those locked out included all cadre of workers, including top ranking officers of the state Civil Service as well as political appointees.

    Mr Christian Ita, Special Adviser on Media to Governor, said that the governor had always frowned at indiscipline and shown reward to those committed to their responsibilities.

    According to him, “The normal resumption time is 8 a.m, and if a governor can be in the office at that time, why can’t others be around.

    “The governor has always shown reward and sanction to workers; he doesn’t hesitate to sanction when you err and also reward you when you are committed to duty.”

    Newsmen reports that as at the time of filing this report, several workers who were locked out were seen hanging around the entrance gate of the Government House.

  • Fire officer confirms fire outbreak in Cross River Govt. House

    Fire officer confirms fire outbreak in Cross River Govt. House

    Mrs Olumayowa Olomola, Commanding Officer, Calabar Command of the Federal Fire Service, has confirmed the fire incident that occurred inside the Cross River Government House.

    Olomola who confirmed the incident that the fire started from an electrical spark from a generator house.

    The Government House in the capital city houses the office of the Governor and some of the civil servants as well as aides to the governor.

    The fire which occurred between late hour of Satuday and the early hours of Sunday, was said to have affected some offices attached to Gov. Ben Ayade.

    It was gathered that some vital documents were also affected by the fire that lasted more than three hours.

    It took the intervention of the Federal Fire Service to put out the fire.

    Meanwhile, the Cross River Government has said that the fire incident did not cause major damage.

    Mr Christian Ita, Special Adviser on Media to the Governor said, “it was just a minor incident and no damage was caused by the incident. There was also no file damaged.

    “It was only a building attached to Governor’s Office and no major activity takes place there.”

  • JUST IN: Gov Ayade’s office, vital documents gutted by fire

    JUST IN: Gov Ayade’s office, vital documents gutted by fire

    A fire incident occurred inside the Cross River State Government House that affected offices attached to the State Governor, Ben Ayade.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that the Government House in the capital city houses the office of the Governor and some civil servants as well as aides to the governor.

    The fire incident affected vital official documents as confirmed by Mrs Olumayowa Olomola, Commanding Officer, Calabar Command of the Federal Fire Service.

    Olomola disclosed that the fire, which occurred between the late hours of Saturday and the early hours of Sunday, started from an electrical spark from a generator house.

    It was gathered that some vital documents were also affected by the fire that lasted more than three hours. It took the intervention of the Federal Fire Service to put out the fire.

    Meanwhile, the Cross River Government has said that the fire incident did not cause major damage.

    Mr Christian Ita, Special Adviser on Media to the Governor said, “it was just a minor incident and no damage was caused by the incident. There was also no file damaged.

    “It was only a building attached to Governor’s Office and no major activity takes place there”.

  • Nigerians should remain vigilant, APC ‘ll come out with another antics – Rep Mbora

    Nigerians should remain vigilant, APC ‘ll come out with another antics – Rep Mbora

    House of Representative member from Cross River, Eta Mbora has said that Nigerians should be very vigilant as the ruling party, the All Progressive Congress (APC) will come out with another antics ahead of 2023 general elections.

    The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP member who represents Odukpani/Calabar Municipal, said this while speaking with newsmen in Calabar on Tuesday.

    The lawmaker, who expressed concern over the poverty level, the spate of kidnappings, and banditry in the country, however, noted that only the main opposition party, could squarely address the nation’s current insecurity challenges.

    He noted that the ruling APC, in spite of its propaganda to wrestle power from the PDP in 2015, had failed to implement half of the promises it used in “deceiving Nigerians”.

    According to him, Nigerians should remain vigilant as the APC will come out with another antic with the aim to deceive the people into entrusting them with the management of the country.

    He said: “I’m sure Nigerians must have by now, learnt bitter lessons from the deceitful party called APC.

    “It is obvious and better known to the people that the President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC government has no clue on how to better the country, which was why they launched serious propaganda to oust PDP from power in 2015.

    “My appeal to the people is to be wary of them (APC) as 2023 approaches again. I personally see them coming out stronger this time with antics to again deceive the people into giving them another chance.”

    He said there was no alternative to the PDP adding that records showed that the PDP remained the best option to lead the country at the critical time.

    Mbora, who is seeking re-election for the Odukpani/Calabar Municipal federal constituency seat, said he remained committed to improving the lots of his constituents if reelected in 2023

  • Ayade threatens to sanction erring civil, public servants

    Ayade threatens to sanction erring civil, public servants

    Gov. Ben Ayade of Cross River has threatened to sanction erring civil and public servants in the state’s establishment to achieve enhanced productivity.

    The governor made this known in a statement signed by his Deputy Press Secretary, Mr Linus Obogo on Tuesday in Calabar.

    Ayade said he had directed Mr Timothy Akwaji, the state’s Head of Service, to step up monitoring of civil and public servants to entrench discipline and efficiency in the workforce.

    He said effective monitoring became necessary to achieve the desired productivity in the state’s Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDA) as well as curtailing the excesses of officers.

    “This directive which is to ensure punctuality as well as deal with issues of truancy among civil and public servants, is intended to reawaken the zeal and virtues that make the service unique.

    “In light of this, any member of staff found wanting shall face appropriate sanction in line with the provisions of the civil service rule,” he said.

    In an interview with NAN a civil servant who preferred anonymity, said civil servants in the state were coping in spite being owed salaries.

    “It is sad that the state government would always want to pick on the civil servants who are actually sustaining the state.

    “We are in August and some workers in the state are still being owed June salary and no one has received anything for July, yet workers are still going to work.

    “I think the governor should rather commend the workforce,” he stated.

    Another civil servant from the Ministry of Education, who also spoke on condition of anonymity, said no one should give the civil servants in the State a bad name.

    He said that civil servants in the state were trying their best in spite not getting their legitimate salary as and when due.

    The source said that it was also difficult for civil servants to get their gratuity and pension when they retire from service.

  • 2023: Ben Ayade emerges Cross River North senatorial candidate

    2023: Ben Ayade emerges Cross River North senatorial candidate

    Cross River  State Governor, Ben Ayade has emerged Cross River North senatorial candidate for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state ahead of the 2023 general elections.

    Ayade emerged unopposed after a fresh primary election was conducted at the Ogoja Local Government Area (LGA) of the state on Thursday.

    Martins Orim who was initially elected at the primaries held on the 28th of May voluntarily withdrew from the race giving Ayade a fresh breadth of air.

     

    Mrs Sameera Tabo, Chairperson of the APC Primary Election Committee for Cross River North declared the governor winner with 252 votes.

    The Cross River born politician won with the total votes of 255, while three votes were invalidated.

    Tabo said following Orim’s withdrawal, the fresh primary election was to ensure that the party fielded a candidate for Cross River North under the provisions of the Electoral Act.

    In his acceptance speech, Ayade expressed gratitude to the delegates for electing him.

    He said after running for the office of president, he returned home and then came under pressure from his people to contest for senate.

    “They said I did very well when I was a Senator from 2011 to 2015 and insisted I go back; today I have answered their call.

    “Of course, they recognised that this country requires a legislator that has both executive and legislative experience.

    “I am very experienced, I know the challenges of our people and possess the essential elements that will help us make the appropriate laws and legislation that will change the narrative of our people,” he said.

    The governor said he was well equipped for the senate and would bring his wealth of experience to bear in the upper legislative chamber if elected

  • Cross River judicial workers get 100% salary increase

    Cross River judicial workers get 100% salary increase

    Cross River Governor, Ben Ayade has approved 100 per cent increment in salaries and welfare package of the state’s Judicial workers.

    This was disclosed in a statement by the Special Adviser on Media to the Governor, Mr. Christian Ita, and made available to newsmen on Tuesday in Calabar.

    According to the statement, Ayade made the announcement during the swearing-in of the new President of Cross River Customary Court of Appeal, Justice Anjor Mbe.

    He said that the new salary regime with effective from August 1, 2022, the state’s High Court judges salaries will be increased by 100 per cent.

    “Judges of the Customary Court of Appeal will also have their salaries increased by 100 per cent while those of Magistrates will be increased by 50 per cent, ” he stated

    He also announced the immediate recruitment of 500 workers in the ministry of Justice for the first phase.

    Similarly, the governor also granted all judicial officers in the state immediate land allocation.

    He expressed optimism that he had addressed the immediate challenges of the state judiciary.

    “As a matter of state government’s policy, any judicial officer sworn-in will have his or her official car ready for delivery.

    “We have witnessed massive vacancy in the Ministry of Justice occasioned by retirement.

    “To this effect, we have approved for the Chief Judge with the support of the Head of Service and the Civil Service Commission, the employment of 500 workers in the Ministry of Justice for the first phase alone.”

    He disclosed that his administration had equally approved the setting aside of 25 per cent of the gross emoluments to support judicial officers’ allowances.

    He said that the allowances covered vacation, travels, among others.

    Ayade pledged his administration’s readiness to support Judicial arm of government as the need arose.

    He said he acted in concert with the report of the State Judicial Welfare Review Committee set up in April.

    The Committee which had retired Justice Eyo Ita as Chairman, was charged with reviewing the salaries of Cross River judicial officers.

    “For our judicial officers, we know the challenges of this country, for Cross River State in particular, we are quite sensitive to all the concerns raised so far.

    “That is why we set up a committee to review the conditions of service of judicial officers to make for better service delivery.

    “So having studied the report of the committee and in order to enhance service delivery, Cross River State Government has hereby handsomely reviewed their salaries and welfare.”

    He commended the state Chief Judge, Justice Akon Ikpeme, “for her diplomatic, studious and consistent push in achieving these goals,” he stated.

  • Cross River begins enumeration of built up property

    The Cross River State Government, through the State Fiscal, Transparency, Accountability and Sustainability (SFTAS) Program will on Sunday 12th June, 2022 begin an enumeration of all built up properties in the State.

    This exercise is meant to help Government plan better for the Economy, and Security of the State. It will also ensure better Physical and Town planning, and will help guide government in infrastructural development.

    Additionally, the exercise will also ensure that house owners and Landlords have proper evaluation of their houses for the purposes of its use as collateral for securing loans from banks and financial institutions.

    According to the State Project Manager, Ted Inyang, “this Enumeration process is a win win for both the Government and the Citizens . While it will help the

    Government to properly plan Infrastructural Development, the landlords will through it, get to know the actual value of their properties”.

    The pilot exercise will last for 20days, beginning from the 13th June – 2nd July ,2022 in 6 wards of Calabar Municipal and Calabar South, Local Government Areas.

    This SFTAS programme is a collaboration between the Federal Government of Nigeria and the World Bank, designed to strengthen Fiscal Transparency,

    Accountability and Sustainability in Nigerian States as a way of improving their revenue base, increasing efficiency in public expenditure and reducing debt overhang. The four-year programme is expected to run from 2018-2022 with a budget size of USD750Million meant to be shared among all the 36 states of the Federation and the FCT.

    Accordingly, residents of the State especially property owners / landlords are kindly requested to cooperate with our team of enumerators.

     

  • Ayade’s Chief of Staff emerges APC C’River Senatorial candidate

    Chief of Staff to Gov. Ben Ayade of Cross River, Mr Martins Orim, has emerged the Cross River Northern Senatorial Zone candidate on the platform of the All Progressive Congress (APC).

    Thenewsguru.com reports that the election was held on Saturday in Ogoja Local Government Area of the state.

    The Chairman of Primary Election Committee, Mrs Dameera Tabo,  who declared Orim winner, announced that he scored 254 votes to defeat his opponent, Mrs Cecilia Adams, who scored zero.

    Speaking with newsmen after his victory, Orim thanked all the delegates for voting him as the candidate of the party ahead of the 2023 polls.

    He appealed to all constituents in the senatorial district to vote en mass for him during the 2023 general elections.