‘Paving the Way!’ The Inside Story Behind Gov Eno’s Cabinet Shake-Up, Commissioner Dismissals

The Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Bassey Eno, sacked and dissolved all members of the cabinet, including commissioners and special advisers, on Friday.

Prince Enobong Uwah, Secretary to the State Government, disclosed this in a statement on Friday.

According to him, the dissolution takes effect from Friday, January 10, 2025.

“His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Bassey Eno, has approved the dissolution of the State Executive Council, EXCO, with effect from 10th January 2025.

“Consequently, all commissioners and special advisers are hereby directed to hand over to their permanent secretaries or the most senior director where there is no permanent secretary.

“The governor expresses his sincere appreciation to the outgoing Executive Council members for their dedicated service to the state.

“He wishes them well in their future endeavours and thanks them for their contributions to the development of Akwa Ibom,” the statement reads.

This is coming after growing tension in the state over the anticipated dissolution of the kitchen cabinet.

Eno, who succeeded former Governor Udom Emmanuel, inherited all the commissioners and advisers appointed by his predecessor, except the Commissioner for Internal security General Koko Essien (retd) appointed to head the newly created Ministry of Internal Security.

It would be recalled that in 2024, during a media briefing which took place in September to mark the 37th anniversary of the state, Eno announced that the State Executive Council would be dissolved to pave way for another set of professionals to bring new ideas into governance.

Some of the commissioners have been in office for close to 10 years as some of them served with former Governor Godswill Akpabio.

Sources close to the governor’s office have disclosed that the valedictory council meeting scheduled to hold on Friday will mark the dissolution of the State Executive Council.

The sources also confirmed that the commissioners last week met Eno, paving the way for their tenure to come to an end.

It would also be recalled that during the New Year Thanksgiving Service on January 2, Eno had criticized his commissioners for claiming that there was “nothing beneficial in government yet they were not willing and ready to resign”.

He said the commissioners were like a nagging housewife who would say her marriage was not worth the while but has had seven children while still in the marriage.

The state government is also scheduled to organize a dinner night for the outgoing members of the State Executive Council.