By Ukongikwen Adie
Cross River State Governor, Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu, has officially declared open a two-day orientation and induction workshop for newly recruited civil servants. The event took place on Monday at the College of Health Technology Auditorium, Calabar.
Represented by his deputy, Rt. Hon. Peter Odey, Governor Otu congratulated the new employees on their successful emergence from what he described as a highly competitive recruitment process. He emphasized that their appointment goes beyond employment—it is a call to meaningful partnership in the task of advancing the state’s development agenda.
“As civil servants, you are the engine block of governance. Without your dedication, government policies and programmes cannot translate into tangible benefits for our people,” the Deputy Governor stated.
He noted that revitalizing the civil service with fresh talent is key to improving public administration and service delivery. Governor Otu urged the recruits to uphold core values of integrity, discipline, and punctuality, while rejecting all forms of corruption and unethical conduct.
Odey further reiterated the administration’s ongoing reforms aimed at strengthening the workforce, including the implementation of long-overdue staff promotions and the consistent, timely payment of salaries.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Establishments, Training and Pensions, Hon. (Mrs.) Lawrencia E. Ita, welcomed the new recruits, describing the civil service as “one of the most vital organs of government.” She explained that the workshop was designed to expose the new employees to the principles, ethics, and procedures that underpin the operations of the public service.
“This orientation will provide you with the foundational knowledge and values required to serve effectively and uphold the standards of the Cross River State civil service,” she said.
The event also featured goodwill messages from the Chairman of the Civil Service Commission, Sir Maurice Effiwatt, and the State Accountant-General, Dr. (Mrs.) Glory Effiong, both of whom encouraged the new entrants to be diligent and to view their roles as crucial to the success of government policies.
