Photo Story: Meet the new board members sworn-in by Gov Udom Emmanuel

Moses Nta October 11, 2018

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel, has sworn in new Board members into various boards and commissions in the state.

The new board members and commission chairmen were sworn in on Wednesday at the Government House Banquet Hall, Uyo.

Governor Emmanuel congratulated the newly inaugurated board members, and charged them to use their pedigrees, professional competence and capacities to add value to the sustainable development agenda of the current administration.

He said that the inauguration of the chairmen and members of various boards and commissions is quite necessary owning the lapses and challenges faced, and urged them to be units and wards defenders in order to give back to the people.

The Governor stressed that it is not the duty of government to manage most boards but those who head them, saying that most of the agencies are good sources of revenue generation for the government rather than depend on statutory allocations.

He hinted that there are challenges in the Tourism and Hospital Management, Agric Loan, Education Boards and others both in the existing ones, and however gave kudos to the Ministry of Sports and Youth Development for the successes recorded thus far, winning the Challenge Cup twice within the last three and a half years his administration, and sued not to relent.

“We want our children to be Ronaldos of tomorrow and the only way that can happen is through Continental exposure. We also hope to produce Nollywood stars through the Culture and Tourism board. A state is not only about one man, but about 6.1 million people. I can’t make it alone.”

Governor Emmanuel used the occasion to explain the issue of pension and gratuity in the state, and decried that most times, people rush to radio stations to talk without understanding. “We had contributions from the Contributory Pension Scheme that was abolished, which would have reduced gratuity. Today, somebody who had collected the gratuity that was earlier refunded is now asking me to pay. Am I going to double-pay or double-count?