A’Ibom: Journalists Barred From Commissioners’ Inauguration

Security Operatives in Akwa Ibom in Uyo barred journalists from the coverage of the swearing-in ceremony of the newly appointed commissioners.

The security men, who claimed that they were acting on “instruction from above”, prevented scores of journalists from entering the venue of the ceremony on grounds that they did not possess Government House Press Corps identity cards.

Our correspondent reports that members of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the NUJ were not issued identity cards.

Our correspondent learnt that the new state Executive Council comprised 20 commissioners and five special advisers as earlier screened and approved by the State House of Assembly on the request of Gov. Godswill Akpabio.

The new council is also made up of 90 per cent of the former commissioners and personal aides of the governor.

However, the new Head of Service, Mrs Cecilia Udoessien, who was the immediate past Permanent Secretary in the State Ministry of Finance, was also sworn-in at the ceremony alongside with the newly appointed permanent secretaries.