Cross River State Governor, Prof. Ben Ayade
There was mild drama at the Government House
in Calabar on Monday as the new governor of
Cross River State, Prof. Ben Ayade, on his first
official day in office locked out civil servants
that had yet to resume for work at 8.10am.
The governor, who resumed work at about
7.45am met an almost empty complex and
directed the Head of Service, Mrs. Mary-
Theresa Ikwen, to shut the gate to the
Government House.
He also directed that henceforth, the gates to
all Ministries, Department and Agencies, should
be shut by 8.10am daily in order to curb
lateness.
Civil servants were seen discussing in groups at
the entrance to the government house.
Two civil servants declined to comment on the
development, but a third one who craved
anonymity, said workers would have to change
their attitude.
“We would start resuming very early in order not
to incur the governor’s wrath,” he said.
However, the governor, who ordered that the
gate be reopened at about 8.40am, warned all
heads of MDAs to live up to their
responsibilities by ensuring that civil servants
served in line with the prescribed civil service
rules.
Ayade said, “If heads of MDAs could report to
work as early as 8am, I see no reason why their
subordinates should not be in their respective
offices on or before that time. For those who
are late today, we will pardon them but from
tomorrow, all latecomers will be locked outside
and sanctioned accordingly.”
He maintained that as a successful
businessman, he would not fold his arms and
watch civil servants who are supposed to serve
the people relegate their work to the
background.
“I am a change agent, in my younger years, I
used to be addressed as a system purifier and I
am here to do just that, focus exactly on
production, expand the horizon and economic
benefits and potential of my people.
“It is only private organisation that runs for
profit but government’s profit is the social
safety net, the welfare and well-being of our
people. My profit therefore is the number of
people I employ, my service to my people is the
number of people I have engaged, so coming
down to narrow the number of appointment will
mean, I have already started with disservice.”
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