Akwa Ibom Governor issues queries to over 200 aides for “disloyalty”

Premium Times, a reputable online Newspaper in Nigeria, has exclusively reported that Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has taken a strong stance against “disloyalty” within his administration.

The paper claims that over 200 aides of the governor have received queries for their absence at state government-organized functions without permission.

The query, dated February 25, was issued by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Enobong Uwah, who stated that the affected aides were absent at the inauguration of the Model Health Centres at Udung Uko and Ika Local Government Areas (LGAs) on February 21.

Uwah deemed their absence as “insubordination and disloyalty” to the government that appointed them.

In a letter, Uwah directed the aides to explain within 48 hours why disciplinary action should not be taken against them for their disobedience.

He warned that failure to respond within the stipulated time would be considered as having no response, and appropriate sanctions would be taken.

This move comes after Governor Eno had appointed a large number of aides, including 368 drawn from all wards in the state, 50 media aides, and numerous others categorized as Senior Special Assistants (SSA), Special Assistants (SA), and Personal Assistants (PA).

The Akwa Ibom State Government had previously emphasized the importance of attendance at governor’s appointments and official functions.

In a statement dated September 4, 2024, and signed by Uwah, the state government frowned at the absence of political appointees at the governor’s appointments, an action he said was not in line with the team spirit of the governor’s development blueprint, known as the Arise Agenda.

Uwah stated that it was “mandatory” for all commissioners and special advisers, economic and political advisers, chairpersons and members of boards and commissions, honorary special advisers, SSAs, SAs, PAs, and political appointees to attend governor’s appointments and official functions.

“The governor’s directive said that political appointees are expected to show their unalloyed support to Governor Eno by attending all the governor’s appointments and official functions,” Uwah said.

However, some aides have expressed concerns about attending state functions without transportation allowances or mobility provisions. An anonymous aide lamented, “They expect us to use our salaries for transportation to governor’s appointments.”

The aide further alleged that the governor has refused to release funds to the Special Adviser in charge of grassroots mobilization for them to mobilize people to government events, as was always done in the times of former governors Senator Godswill Akpabio and Udom Emmanuel.

“So, he wants the aides to take the place of the cheerleaders by standing under the sun alongside the purple, lemon, orange, and golden girls,” the aide said.

The aide also expressed fear that the governor was planning a six-month suspension without salary for those who fail to comply, saying, “This is the result of what we voted for.”

It remains to be seen how the aides will respond to the query and whether Governor Eno will take disciplinary action against those who fail to comply with his directives.

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