… Charges Exco members to brace up
… Council gives approval to 15 proposals including Executive Bill seeking to establish State University of Education and Entrepreneurship
By Balimwor Ekpe
Cross River State Governor, Senator Bassey Otu, has charged Members of the State Executive Council to brace up for greater records of successes in this second year of the Administration.
Speaking while presiding over the 2024/5th State Executive Council Meeting held on Friday in Calabar, Governor Otu said a good number of achievements have been recorded by the Administration in the last one year. “Much more would have been recorded if not for some obvious challenges that are receiving attention currently”, he added.
In his words, “results are what matter and very soon, we are getting to where results will count and every Commissioner must brace up.”
He commended all Exco members for the role they have played individually and collectively for the Administration to record the achievements accounted for it within the first year.
The State Exco attended by the Deputy Governor, Hon. Peter Odey, the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Anthony Owan-Enoh, the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Hon. Emmanuel Ironbar and all the Commissioners and three Senior Special Advisers and the Director General Due Process and Price Intelligence, was described as an Emergency meeting by the Governor.
According to the Commissioner for Information, Mr. Erasmus Ekpang, some of the major approvals in the 5th Exco of the current year include, an approval granted to the draft Executive Bill seeking to establish a State University of Education and Entrepreneurship in Awi, Akamkpa local government area. The proposed university is to take over the current facilities of the State College of Education, Awi, Akamkpa local government area.
The Information Commissioner explained that the approved Executive Bill will be transmitted to the State Legislature for further legislative action, including Public Hearing by the legislature, before final nod is given to the proposal.
Also, the Exco approved a proposal seeking a strategic collaboration in the State between Universities and MDAs to foster local fabrication of basic necessities in Agriculture, Education materials, Health care, Water and Sanitation.
The Council approved the acceptance of Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria’s (AMCON) offer to settle outstanding indebtedness for Tinapa Business Resort, whereby in eighteen months the State will make full redemption of its obligations through equal monthly installment payments and thereafter, pave way for future investments and revitalization efforts for the resort.
The State Library which is currently under renovation got an approval for a revised scope of work after it was disclosed that the earlier contractor, an indigenous firm, disappointed the State and had its contract revoked.
The State Cabinet also approved the proposal for Urban Water Rehabilitation to be facilitated by development partners, without cost to the State Government. The said funds will be credited as grant in tranches within the duration of the project.
Another strategic approval of the Exco, the Information Commissioner disclosed, was the approval for the release of the State counterpart fund for the Special Agro-industral Processing Zone (SAPZ) Programme of the Federal Government.
Cross River State is the only State in the South-South zone of the country qualified for the programme that will see the injection of over $210 million in investment funds into seven participating States in Nigeria including Cross River State from the African Development Bank, who are project partners.
Other Project partners such as the Islamic Development Bank and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) are jointly contributing $310 million. The Nigerian Government is investing $18.05 million in the programme.
