The Cross River State Governor, Ben Ayade, has sworn in Alhaji Adamu Uba Musa and 12 others as commissioners.
Following his appointment, Musa became the first non-indigene muslim to be appointed a commissioner in the state.
The swearing-in ceremony, was held at the Executive Chamber of the Governor’s Office, Calabar.
The Deputy Governor, Professor Evara Esu, was in attendance, as well as, the State Chief Judge, Honourable Justice Akon Ikpeme, First Lady, Dr. Linda Ayade among other top government functionaries and guests.
Speaking, Ayade urged the new cabinet members to work assiduously to ensure that his administration finished strong.
The Governor also used the occasion to announce a cabinet reshuffle in two ministries, Hon. Eric Anderson, the former Commissioner for Culture and Tourism was named the new Commissioner for Information, while, Oliver Orok, hitherto Commissioner for Sustainable Development now took charge of the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
The cabinets became vacant as a result of their former appointees who left either to vie for elective offices or resigned following the governor’s defection to the All Progressives Congress.
Ayade said, “Your coming on board is not by accident; you have been carefully selected based on your integrity and competence to bring your wealth of experiences to bear on 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.
She thanked 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.”
The other newly sworn-in Commissioners and their portfolios are; Mrs. Ekwele Agube (Sustainable Development), Prince Sunday Williams Awara ( Social Housing); Hon. Wogor Umari (Homeland Security); Dr. Hippolytus Lukputa (Water Resources); Patrick Ebam ( Special Duties); Okama Inyang (Infrastructure).
The rest are; Janet Eyo Nsing (Climate Change), Hon. Goddy Eta (Finance), Hon. Arikpo Pius Edet ( Science and Technology), Ntufam Ekpenyong Effiom Iso (Culture and Tourism), Associate Professor Gertrude Njar (Women Affairs), Alhaji Adamu Uba Musa (Inter-Governmental Affairs).