The head of civil service of the federation, Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita has commended the governor of Cross River State, Prof. Ben Ayade for Oyo-Ita for his vision and industrialisation drive in the state.
Speaking when she led a delegation of federal permanent secretaries who were on a retreat in the state on a courtesy call on the governor, Oyo-Ita said the governor’s vision had begun to yield dividends.
“We must place on record that Your Excellency’s vision and drive for the progress of Cross River State is already bearing fruits, not just through hearsay but what we have already witnessed in Calabar.
She said the team was in the state to for a procurement retreat for the federal permanent secretaries hosted jointly by the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) and the office of head of civil service of the federation.
Oyo-Ita who was accompanied by 21 permanent secretaries, the accountant general of the federation, Ahmed Idris, the auditor general of the federation, Anthony Mkpe Ayine explained that adherence to public procurement practice remains important for effective service delivery.
“It is very important for permanent secretaries to have a deeper understanding of the knowledge and practice of procurement process while ensuring that they do not find themselves as guests at the public accounts committee of the national assembly and maybe the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.”
In his remarks, Ayade said never in the history of Nigerian politics has the state been as favoured as it is in the current dispensation.
“Never in the history of Nigeria politics has Cross River State benefited this much from the gale of appointments that has come to us, head of service of the federation, auditor general of the federation, federal permanent secretary (information), chairman, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). We also have minister of Niger Delta, chief of naval staff, chief justice of Nigeria; the list is endless. We have never had it this good,” he said.
He urged the federal permanent secretaries to work in tandem with President Muhammadu Buhari’s deep vision for the citizenry.
“Work with full loyalty and support for Mr. President to continue to do the good job he is doing. You have an opportunity to reduce hunger; we cannot leave it for the President alone. The pressure he’s come under is occasioned by the poverty in the land.”
Explaining that the procurement retreat for federal permanent secretaries was timely considering its challenges to humanity as well as egalitarian distribution of opportunities, Ayade charged the body to find unorthodox method within the confines of the law to provide a direction and focus that can create the sense of unity and equality.
“I task you to make sure that the retreat goes beyond the boundaries of just an intercourse. Take it truly to heart and show kindness to your fellowmen. Your position is to serve humanity, not to serve self or state and so I entreat you to put God and the fear of God first in all your considerations,” the governor said.
