Efio-Ita Nyok|26 October 2016
The newly appointed Personal Assistants, Liaison Officers, Special Assistants, Special Advisers, Senior Special Assistants, Members of Board and Permanent Secretaries whose names were announced on Monday and Tuesday 24 and 25 October respectively are to come for their letters of appointment, portfolios and office spaces as follows:
Date: Thurs 32 – Fri 38 October 2000
Time: 12AM – 6AM
Venue: Calas Vegas, United States of Cross River
Everything is wrong with this 'press release' especially the date, time, and venue, right!? Could it be a mischievous publication? Without mincing words, Yes, it is! Albeit, as seemingly leprechaunish as this publication appears it is justified on its premise of being a satire aimed at humorously demonstrating the weaknesses or bad qualities of a person, government, society, etc. Expressly, it is intended to hold up Cross River State Government's vices and follies to ridicule and scorn.
On Monday 24 October, the Executive Governor of Cross River State, Sen. Prof. Ben Ayade, approved the appointment of no fewer than 1,096 individuals as Liaison Officers, Personal Assistants, Special Assistants, Special Advisers, Senior Special Assistants, Board Members and Permanent Secretaries. This according to a media aide of the Governor is 'the final list' of appointees. Meanwhile, this is in addition to the previous appointments made numbering over 500 aides.
This appointment has been perceived as being outrageous to say the least. First, the trending criticism is that the government of Cross River State is not just bloated but over-bloated. Secondly, this appointment isn't wise in that the country is in its worse recession of about 29 years if my memory serves me right, accordingly, the best thing to do following the suggestions of traditional economics is to cut down government expenditure; but, alas! The reverse is the case with Professor and Senator Ben Ayade. Besides, it could be said that Cross River State economy was in a type of its own recession before Finance Minister Kemi Adeosun announced that the country of which Cross River is a subset was in a recession.
Our state receives the least from the Federation Account (FAAC) because of debt. For instance, for the month of September, outside Osun we collected the least as compared to other states. Our Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) has not been impressive either so much so that we can't pay local governments staff as our pensioners are literally fainting and dying off because we can't pay them their due too. Members of the executive council are owed their stipends. Government businesses in ministries are strangulated for the same reasons of paucity of fund. The commonest things as stationeries for clerical or secretarial activities or diesel for power can't be afforded by MDAs. Yet still a Governor is appointing over a 1,000 aide.
The previous appointees are fighting with each other in public because of the dearth of a well delineated job description, provision of office space and other perks of government (Commissioner for Youth and Sports and Executive Chairman Cross River State Sports Commission is a case in point; theirs was so glaring that the Commission for Information had to bar them from going to the press), yet the government of Cross River State is increasing the size of government. What does Sen. Prof. Benedict Ayade take Cross Riverians for!? As fools, nincompoops, or idiots!? Is this the 1000-a-day creation of jobs that was promised during the campaigns? If you think my judgment is skewed listen to what other Cross Riverians are saying:
Venatius Ikem:
Hahaha hahaha hahaha hahaha hahaha.. make I no fall down I beg! Make him try pay Primary school teachers and Local Govt staff nah. There will soon be more Special Assistants than civil servants I beg. Or at least call them a different name. I don't know what the Governor is doing that he needs so much assistance at! Oh! Our Beloved State! Oh! Imoke. What did we do to deserve this?
Peter Ofem Ubi:
I have lost words to comment on Ayade anymore. The man should just tell us he is giving employment through the back door to people who supported him and remain unemployed.
Kennedy Nsan:
I hear say my friend name dey inside… What else can I say!
Comrade Edem Edem:
Pls what is total number of aides do we have now in CRS
Odobi Innocent Ikatu:
Rubbish
Odama Patrick Ojeka:
Sorry to ask is this list for Unical admission or Crutech? Bcoz I didn't see my name oooooo
Affiong Nikita Ndem:
Ha, Whr will d finance come 4rm ?
Offiong Oyo-ita:
It's obvious this government is a big joke.
Eyo Nse:
hmmmmmmm
John Henshaw:
I still dey laugh
Tamme Takon:
Everything scatter.
Akem Lisa:
God bless you His Excellency
Joseph Odok:
Quest for power has really made Ayade irrational in administration
Ihunyeresc Solomon:
Very good indeed
Emmanuel Anom:
Hahahaha shoki governor…… wers are de offices for this people??….
Charles Raul Ekp'young:
He hasn't paid local government workersooo, this man is irritating
Prince Maurice Edem:
A new office wld be created at the calabar sport stadium to accommodate the multitudes. And pls mind how u address anyone u pass on the road now cos u may just be talking to our honorable
Ayi-Ekpenyong Imah:
with this i can confidently say that the hope of Cross River State lies in Supreme Court of Nigeria.
Amu Julius:
Their votes alone will make him governor in 2019
Godwin Agianabe Agim:
I hope u will b able to pay their monthly take home?…WORSHOOOOR…
Victor Adaha:
i sincerely remain apolitical even in my post. neither do i want to be seen advocating or speaking for the government of Ben Ayade, because he already do have so many people on his pay role to speak for him and his government, but i rationally do think that their could be a good side to his recent appointment irrespective of the fact that most of us think it is so untimely, in the face of this recession, not forgetting that some people think this is just a political strategy to get more people fighting his cause especially as he has a case to answer for in court come December, but which might be the case time alone would tell. I think for the first time i want to think in the light and possibly their direction. perhaps this is just a way of employing the teeming youth and arrest the rate of un-employement in the state. i think if there are no monies in the government treasure for them to spend un accounted for it would reduce corruption to the lowest minimum, which would be a major achievement. since they cant attract investors to the state, the government should employ as many as possible as long as the roles, offices and positions are actually real. or how else would this number of citizens meet up in this harsh economy?. this is my apolitical stand i wait for a superior argument.
Larry Akengbo:
Gov Ayade should be more enlightened than this. He might be trying to garner public sympathy in this time of his travail, but his actions could be counter productive. The state yerns for serious devt and these appointments would not bring about the devt we all desire for our dear state.
Okon O. Effiong:
Congratulations our digital governor!
I can now see that the warrant to completely bury our ailing state has finally been signed. Cross River State might well be the poorest state in the South South Geo political zone. Yet the number of aides appointed by our high -target – setting governor is more than the total number of aides in all the other SS States put together. Does the federal government that even oversee the entire country have this number of aides? How will they be paid, maybe, borrow as usual eh?
Meanwhile, some of the portfolios are absolutely unnecessary, only laughable.
Let us clap, clap and clap for our governor. At least, he has done what no one else has done in this country. Are we not in the era of change begins with me? Proudly Cross Riverean!! It were better this is only a dream!!!
Kelvin Iguru:
I hope this post must be a joke. Could this really be released from the governor's office? Or the appointees are to work for free?
Asuquo Onda:
It is very unfortunate to have a governor who have no idea of economic reality. Nigeria is in recession but our able governor is appointing half of the state to positions not needed to run an effective government. Where is the money going to come from to pay all these people while our primary schools, secondary schools have been neglected. These schools have vertually no labs, computers, science equipments, books and other modern amenities. Who are advising this man for God sake. He should stop decieving our people in the name of job creation. Wise up Crossriverians this.man does not wish the state well or growth opportunities. This is where I stand.
Simon Utsu:
Whilst Buhari's policies are usually anti-people and are perceived as wicked, my state Governor's policies are usually fit for only the circus. I learnt he has added another 400 aides to the 1,100 aides and sub-aides he already has. Same aides who have been busy loitering about the state capital with no offices or even the perks of such offices. If they're not sighted jumping down from a taxi in Mbukpa, you could sight them struggling to pay for their bushmeat and palmwine meal in downtown Atimbo. Why won't they struggle to pay for a meal? When over a thousand adults and youths who are supposed to be busying themselves in more profitable ventures reduce themselves to ambitionlessness or the 'ambition' of being tagged as one of the over one thousand PAs/SAs to the governor. Cross River youth under this government are redifining mediocrity!
It's not just the ridiculous number that is mind boggling it's also the portfolios they're attached to- SA on foodbank, chairman of the foodbank board, SA superhighway and so many others I've lost count of. These antics make him worthy of being called the 'court jester' governor- one of the most unserious in his set if you ask me.
Robert Neji Tawo:
Mehnnnn i tire o
Williams Umanah:
Lol it's not d end ooo, very soon he will appoint SA on Facebook posting and Special SA on commenting on post from the SA Facebook posting. 😂
Ifeanyichukwu Chibiko:
hahahaha abasi mbok
Idiga Paul Adinya:
Did I hear you say 100 new appointees? Well thanks for giving the governor a face saving figure,because the real figures being realed out is the region of 300.
Aniefiok Nduonofit:
Hehehe!
Or you'd see them in Anantigha trooping in to see the chairman of Calabar South…
Inyang Ema:
I thought this man is a Professor?
Chika Christopher:
That man is a big time clown!
Where's the funds to pay their salaries & perks of office? He is creating a hydra headed monster that will impoverish the people cos the next thing he will do is to escalate revenue drive which will in turn affect a lot of buisness including small,medium & large scale.
Inyali Peter:
Ayade Benedict! What a governor! What a leader! I'm yet to see special assistant toilet matters. Chai!
Kpans B Kpans:
In all things give thanks to God. So we thank the lord
Abang Ogon:
@Oga Venatius is this not the same Ayade you supported for senate against Paul Adah? In sharing the blames you also have your share not only Imoke, you had a hand in the construction process.
James Ikpa Junior:
@Abang Ogon, that's quite true! All blames should nt go to Mr.Imoke alone because the senate was a perfect ladder for Ayade to cling the governorship of our dear state.
Adie Bede Agaba:
Are u guys crying?its work in progress,lets wait n see what those advisers will turn d fortunes of d state into thr creative advises to d Gov…I believe in d Gov.
Eno Beke Ikwen:
Am waiting for their portfolios. Lol
John Offum Edul:
Very unfortunate
Brian Okomowho Williams:
Hope they are all on minimum wage??
Samuel Ekanem:
I hear say we don get SA Banga soup?
Patricia Enyi:
Even SA of SA is appointment abeg help tell the appropriate quarters to release Local ppl salaries_ ppl are starving children have drop out of schools no money for fees
Egbara Owa:
crutech admission list
'The voice of God', they say, 'is the voice of the people'. The government of Cross River State especially as led by its incumbent isn't irredeemable. There is still hope. I am calling on Sen. Prof. Benedict Ayade to trim down the size of his government.
Efio-Ita Nyok
Is a Blogger, the Editor & Publisher of NegroidHaven.org
My little knowledge of macroeconomics reveal that during periods of recession such as we have, government need to increase spending to develop infrastructures. This will increase aggregate demand for goods and services, boost employment and lead to a large increase in income. Government can also reduce taxes in order to raise disposable income thereby increasing consumption and investment expenditure of the people. Non of these have been done by our government as we are confronted with depleted funds. Recent information from the CBN governor, Godwin Emeifele has it that government may not be able to pay civil servants' salaries beginning from the month of October if the recession persist.
Therefore, in the light of the above, though laudable as some may be, like the statutory ones, I am stocked between applauding and condemning the recent myriad of appointments made by our digital governor, Senator Professor Benedict Ayade. MY PEOPLE, WHICH WAY? Can somebody help me please.