The governor of Cross River, Liyel Imoke, has suspended seven commissioners and 13 special advisers in his cabinet indefinitely for failing to attend the state’s World AIDs Day anniversary walk on Sunday.
According to a statement signed by the secretary to the state government, Michael Aniah, the affected cabinet members are to hand over to their permanent secretaries or the most senior officers in their respective ministries and agencies.
The four-kilometre World AIDS Day walk, which also heralded the flag-off of the state’s annual Calabar Festival, was attended by the governor and other cabinet members.
Those affected include the commissioner for Justice, Attah Ochinke; the commissioner for Finance, Etim Takis Caifas; the commissioner for Women Addairs, Edak Iwuchukwu; and the commissioner for Social Welfare, Patricia Endeley.
Others are the commissioner for Environment, Sandy Onor; the commissioner for Agriculture, James Aniyom and the commissioner for Water Resources, Elemi Etowa.
The suspended special advisers include Project Monitoring and Evaluation, Eja Dons Eseghe; Tourism, Wilfred Usani; Religious Affairs, Eyo Okpo Ene and Special Duties, Fabian Okpa.
Also affected are the special advisers, Forestry and Biodiversity, Ntufam Gabe Odu-Oji; Investment, Gerald Adah; Political and Legislative Matters, Fred Osim andLegal, Mark Obi.
Others are the special advisers on Non-Governmental Organisations, NGOs, Margaret Johnson Ebokp; ICT, Odo Effiong and Mineral Resources, Effiong Bassey.
The adviser on Strategy and Planning, Idem Temple and the Special Adviser on Debt Management, Francisca Nkoyo Effiong were also suspended.