Ayade suspends commissioner, MD for lateness

Cross River State Commissioner for Water Resources, Ntufam Gabe Odu Ojie, and the Managing Director of Water Board Limited, Dr. Oju Igile, were suspended indefinitely yesterday by Governor Ben Ayade, for reporting to work late.

The governor announced their suspension during his routine but unscheduled tour of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to ensure that civil and public servants comply strictly with basic work ethics.

Speaking to newsmen at the premises of the Ministry in Calabar, Ayade said it was an act of indiscipline for appointees not to be at their duty post before 9.00am, maintaining that the suspension would serve as a deterrent to others..

His words: “This is about 9 o’clock in the morning and the Commissioner for Water Resources is not at his duty post. The Managing Director of Cross River State Water Board is not in the office. I cannot understand why he is not in the office. I therefore, with immediate effect, announce his suspension. We will appoint somebody to take over this office with immediate effect. Any single commissioner I find in this circumstance will leave.”