By Emmanuel Uffot
The Akwa Ibom State Governor Pastor Umo Eno has tasked his newly Inaugurated Executive Cabinet to hit the ground running with his ARISE Agenda Project.
The new Commissioners, 23 in all were sworn in last Friday July 28, 2023 by the governor at the Banquet Hall of the Government House, Uyo.
Among the Commissioners, Sir Monday Ebong Umo holds the record as the longest serving commissioner among the lot having been appointed by former Governor Udom Emmanuel in 2015 as Commissioner for Youths and Sports and held that portfolio for the eight years of that administration. He is retaining that portfolio in the current dispensation.
Mr Nsikan Linus Nkan is another long serving commissioner who has been reappointed by Governor Uno Eno. He was appointed in 2016 by then governor Emmanuel as Commissioner for Finance for the whole tenure and has been reappointed to the same Ministry.
Like Mr Nkan, Mr Charles Udoh is another old Commissioner that was was appointed in 2016 as Commissioner for Information and Strategy and later redeployed to Ministry of Environment and Mineral Resources. He has been posted to man the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
Still in the club of long serving Commissioners in last administration that have been reappointed by Governor Eno is Mr Oman Esin. Like Nkan and Udoh, he was appointed in 2016 by the immediate past administration first as Commissioner for Transport and Petroleum Resources and later redeployed to Culture and Tourism till the end of Udom administration. He has in the new cabinet been assigned to the Ministry if Transport.
Similarly Chief Uno Erin Eno, who was first appointed in 2018 to head the Culture and Tourism Ministry for one year duration before redeployment to the Ministry of Transport is now Commissioner for Environment and Mineral Resources.
Others that have retained their portfolios in Governor Eno Executive Cabinet are, Barrister Uno Udom (SAN)- Ministry of Justice and Attorney General, Dr. Ini Adiakpan_ Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Dr. Offiong Offor- Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development that was previously Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sufficiency, Dr Imo Moffat- Ministry of Science and Technology, Mrs Idongesit Etiebet- Ministry of Education, Professor Augustine Umoh- Ministry of Health and Professor Eno Ibanga- Ministry of Works and Fire Service.
Others are Hon Frank Archibong- Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Elder Aniefiok Nkom- Ministry of Labour and Manpower Planning, Mr Raphael Bassey- Ministry of Housing, Mr Emem Bob – Ministry of Economic Development and Dr Bassey- Okon – Ministry of Special Duties and Ibom Deep Seaport.
While the above retained their respective portfolios, the underlisted had redeployment to other Ministries. They include, Engineer Camillus Umoh, formerly Commissioner for Trade and Investment now goes to Ministry of Power while Dr John James who was Commissioner for Power and Petroleum Development replaced the latter at Ministry of Trade and Investment.
Captain Iniobong Ekong rtd who succeeded now Governor Eno at the Ministry of Lands and Water Resources has also retained his portfolio in the Ministry which now has Water Resources detached to form Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation headed by Mrs Enobong Mbobo who was Commissioner for Rural Development and Cooperatives in the immediate past administration.
Comrade Ini Ememobong who before his appointment as Commissioner for Information and Strategy was the State Publicity Secretary of PDP, has expectedly been reposted to the Information Ministry as Commissioner.
Going by the newly constituted 23 man EXCO, 22 representing 99 percent, are returning Commissioners from the former Governor Emmanuel administration. The only new face being Major General Koko Essien rtd has been posted to the newly created Ministry of Internal Security as it’s Pioneer Commissioner.
Also sworn in along with Commissioners was Elder Amanam Okon Nkanga, who is Special Adviser on Bureau of Political and Social Re- Orientation.
While swearing in the Commissioners, Governor Eno pointed out to them that what he wanted was result of giant strides in their respective ministries which should be hinged on The ARISE Agenda pre- election manifesto.
He equally gave them a matching order to go back and stimulate the development of their respective wards and local government areas in line with one of the pillars of his ARISE Agenda which is rural development.
” My dear colleagues, Akwa Ibom people want results. Results in ensuring food security through agricultural revolution we have promised to ignite. Akwa Ibom people are waiting for us to bring massive development to the rural areas and change the narratives and circumstances of our rural dwellers”.
Incidentally both agricultural revolution and rural development are contained in The ARISE Agenda which is the acronym for Agricultural Revolution , Rural Development, Infrastructural Maintenance/Advancement, Security Management and Educational Advancement.
He also used the occasion to clear the air on the criticism trailing the reappointment of all the Commissioners that served in former Governor Emmanuel administration. According to him his reason was based on their experience and stewardship in relation to the critical roles they played in his victory as the governor, which he believes should not be taken for granted by going unrewarded.
He also explained the reason behind the creation of the new Ministry of Internal Security manned by retired General Essien, stressing that the Ministry was created to sustain the relative peace enjoyed in the state in the past eight years of previous government. He noted that it has been mandated to ensure security for the people and investors and directed the Ministry to take inventory of the various voluntary security groups abound in the state for the purpose of harmonising their operations.
The appointment and inauguration of the 23- man state executive Council and Special Adviser on Bureau of Political and Social Re- Orientation comes on the heels of the appointment of Mr Enobong Uwah- Secretary to the State Government, Mr Anietie Usen- Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mr Ekerete Udoh, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor and Mr Essien Ndueso, Senior Special Assistant on Research and Documentation among others.
With the inauguration of new EXCO, the SSG and the media aides, the government of Governor Umo Eno is seen to have taken off in earnest.
The Commissioners And Their Ministries At A Glance.
1, Sir Monday Ebong Uko- Ministry of Youth and Sports.
2, Dr Nsikan Linus Nkan – Ministry of Finance.
3, Mr Charles Udoh- Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
4, Barrister Uno Essien Udom- Ministry of Justice and Attorney General.
5,Mr Oman Esin – Ministry of Transport.
6, Dr (Mrs) Offiong Offor- Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
7, Mr Bob Emem – Ministry of Economic Development.
8, Captain Iniobong Ekong rtd- Ministry of Lands.
9,Engr Camillus Umoh- Ministry of Power.
10, Hon Uno Etim Uno – Ministry of Environment and Mineral Resources ( Petroleum and Solid Minerals).
11,Dr Bassey Okon – Ministry of Special Duties and Ibom Deep Seaport.
12, Mr Raphael Bassey-Ministry of Housing.
13, Elder Aniefiok Nkom-Ministry of Labour and Manpower Planning.
14, Professor Eno Ibanga-Ministry of Works and Fire Service.
15, Professor Augustine Umoh-Ministry of Health.
16, Hon Frank Archibong-Ministry Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.
17, Dr Ini Adiakpan- Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare.
18, Mrs Idongesit Etiebet-Ministry of Education.
19, Comrade Ini Ememobong- Ministry of Information and Strategy.
20, Dr Imo Moffat-Ministry of Science and Technology.
21, Mrs Enobong Mbobo – Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation.
22, Dr John James Etim – Ministry of Trade and Investment.
23, Gen. Koko Essien – Ministry of Internal Security.
