Ayade appoints Dr. Ekpenyong and 12 others as Commissioners
Emmanuel Alfred
The Cross River State Governor, His Excellency, Sen Prof Ben Ayade on Tuesday, January 10, 2023 swore in the Director General of Primary Heathcare, Dr Janet Ekpenyong as the Commissioner for Health.
The event which also saw the appointment of 12 others as Commissioners saw the Governor announcing a minor cabinet reshuffle in two Ministries which led to Eric Anderson becoming the new Commissioner for Information and Orientation and Oliver Orok as the Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources.
The new Commissioners filled positions made vacant by their former occupants who left either to vie for elective offices or resigned following the Sen Ayade’s defection to the All Progressives Congress, APC.
Speaking, Governor Ayade urged the new Commissioners to work assiduously to ensure that his administration finished strong.
He said, “your coming on board is not by accident but you have been carefully selected based on your integrity and competence to bring your wealth of experiences to bare in our administration.
“I, therefore, charge you to work assiduously to ensure that we finish strong as an administration. Your jobs are all cut out for you, I expect that you make our dear State proud.”
Responding on behalf of the new Commissioners, Dr Janet Ekpenyong who replaced APC’s National Woman Leader, Dr Betta Edu, as Commissioner for Health, commended the Governor for “finding us worthy to join you in the crystallization of Cross River state, changing and transforming our state for the betterment of all Cross Riverians”
She also pledged full commitment in meeting the health needs of people in the State and assured Cross Riverians of a holistic improvement in the quality of services rendered across the 18 Local Government Areas of the State.
She said: “It’s a call for more work, I’m sure he’s happy with what we have achieved in the Primary Healthcare level and hence the elevation to the position of Commissioner for Health.
He is also committed towards strengthening the health system in the area of infrastructure and man power with enough evidence in the recruitment currently ongoing as well as provision of commodities in all facilities.”
The swearing-in ceremony which took place at the Executive Chamber of the Governor’s Office, Calabar had in attendance the Deputy Governor, Professor Evara Esu, the State Chief Judge, Honourable Justice Akon Ikpeme, First Lady, Dr Linda Ayade among other top government functionaries and guests.
