‘Part-time commissioners may retard governance in Akwa Ibom

•Ekpenyong backs federal roads concession

Former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Akwa Ibom State, Chief Victor Iyanam, has argued that appointing part-time commissioners will affect Governor Udom Emmanuel’s Completion Agenda.

Iyanam said the governor might not achieve much with part-time commissioners in those vital ministries. Speaking with newsmen in Uyo yesterday, the former commissioner advised the governor to engage sufficient and competent hands in his executive council, if he was committed to his Completion Agenda.

Following the sack of the Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Uduak Udoinyang, the governor appointed Dr. Glory Edet, the erstwhile Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, as a replacement.

The recent appointment of the erstwhile Commissioner for Works as Chief of Staff to the Governor also left a vacuum in the Ministry of Works, as a substantive commissioner is yet to be appointed into the ministry.

Faulting the development, Iyanam said the state would not experience expected development with just few men being over-burdened with responsibilities that ought to have been shared.

He said that if it was difficult for the ministries of works, agriculture and woman affairs to function optimally under substantive and commissioners, then those on part-time might find it more difficult meeting the agenda. He advised the governor to search out qualified sons and daughters of the state to run the affairs of the affected ministries.

MEANWHILE, Senator Christopher Ekpenyong (PDP, Akwa Ibom North-West) has said that the plan by the Federal Government to concession some major roads to private investors is a welcome development.

Disclosing this to newsmen yesterday in Uyo, the former deputy governor called on the Federal Government not to forget Ikot Ekpene/Umuahia, Aba/Ikot Ekpene and Ikot Ekpene/Calabar highways in such privatisation arrangement. Citing the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, Ekpenyong argued that the Federal Government lacked the capacity to do quality roads that could last 15 to 20 years.

“So, if we continue to depend on the Federal Government, the roads will not be done. Those highways are major entry points, if you are coming from Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt, Enugu and other parts of the country,” he added.