The Governor of Cross River State, Prof Ben Ayade, has dissolved his cabinet comprising over 27 commissioners, several special advisers and assistants, as well as other political appointees.
Dissolving the cabinet on Tuesday during the valedictory session held at the state executive chamber of the Governor’s office, Calabar, Governor Ayade said “This dissolution extends to include all appointees of government, boards, whether temporary or statutory boards.”
He added, “All routine contracts like waste management also have fallen due, we, therefore, do not have a sitting cabinet.
In a statement made available to newsmen, Mr. Emmauel Ulayi, Special Assistant to Governor Ayade on Social Media, said Governor Ayade revealed how emotionally difficult it was for him to dissolve his cabinet he (Governor) said the decision was, however, a requirement of law.
“What I am doing is based on law as I would have loved not to do this but my authority ends by 12 midnight and everyone knows that I don’t have powers to extend.”
Describing the now dissolved cabinet members as a great team that helped him deliver on his promises to the people of the state, Ayade assured that some of them will be reappointed into government.
“Some commissioners will come back but not in the same ministry,” he stated.
He also directed members of the dissolved state executive council to hand over to their permanent secretaries as “the head of your ministry is the permanent secretary.”
On the composition of his next cabinet, he said: “I will downsize the cabinet, radicalise government and also introduce a Commissioner for Defence as well as that of Foreign Affairs.”
The dissolved cabinet was those appointed between 2015 and 2019.
