17th August, 2016
Ben Ayade, the Cross River state governor on Tuesday suspended indefinitely the Commissioner for Water Resources, Ntufam Gabe Odu Ojie, and the Managing Director of the state water board, Dr. Oju Igile for not reporting to work as at 9am, noting that the suspension would be a strong warning to errant government employees and appointees.
Ayade handed down an indefinite suspension penalty on the duo when he carried out his usual unscheduled tour of Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs, in the state to ensure that civil and public servants comply strictly with basic work ethics.
While addressing journalists at the premises of the ministry in Calabar, the state capital, Ayade stated that it was an act of indiscipline for appointees not to be at their duty post before 9 O’clock in the morning.
The governor said, “This is about 9 o’clock in the morning and the Commissioner for Water Resources is not at his duty post. The Managing Director of Cross River State Water Board is not in the office.
“I cannot understand why he is not in the office. I therefore, with immediate effect, announce his suspension.
“We will appoint somebody to take over this office with immediate effect. Any single Commissioner I find in this circumstance will leave.”
Governor Ayade stressed that the suspension would serve as a deterrent to other government employees.