Cross River State House of Assembly approves Ayade's request for 70 more advisers

CROSS River State House of Assembly has granted Governor Ben Ayade’s request for the appointment of 70 more special advisers to assist in government functions bringing the total to 140.

In December 2019, Governor Ayade appointed 70 aides and the new appointments double that following the issuance of a notice to that effect signed by the secretary to state to the government, Tina Agbor, and read on the floor of the House by the clerk, Bassey Ekpenyong. In a motion, filed by House leader, Peter Odey, and seconded by the deputy leader, Fred Osim, lawmakers unanimously resolved and granted consequential approval to the request.

Mr Odey said the approval was based on the assembly’s earlier request to Governor Ayade on the need to cover other constituencies not yet considered in the appointments. Also, at plenary, the bill for the creation of Cross River State Consumer Protection Agency 2020 scaled through its second reading.

Hon Chris Mbu-Ogar, the member representing Etung State Constituency, who sponsored the bill said it would regulate, control as well as monitor the profits of the producers against the final consumer. Members who contributed to the bill said it would check the attitude of some food vendors who exposed food publicly, sold along dirty gutters as well as turning Cross River State into a market for sub-standard products.

“Distinguished colleagues, this bill is necessary at this moment because it will check the excesses of fake and expired products in the state, which have dominated the markets. Cross River people die daily as a result of what is consumed; this bill seeks to protect what we consume,” he said.

Members further observed that the Consumer Protection Law passed by the federal government was not doing enough in the state. They called on the state government to engage the services of people of proven integrity and technical expertise to manage the agency at the state level for optimal result.