By Onwa Ekor, Calabar
As the Cross River Executive Council convene for its 5th meeting this year, the governor, Prince Bassey Otu, has charged Commissioners to brace up for greater records of successes during his second year in office.
Otu who presided over the meeting held at the Council of Chiefs Chamber in Calabar, maintained that a good number of achievements were recorded during his first year in office.
“Much would have been recorded if not for some obvious challenges that are currently receiving attention.
“Results are what matter and very soon, we are getting to where results would count and every commissioner must brace up,” the governor said.
Accordingly a number of approvals were made by the Executive Council as revealed by the Commissioner for Information, Erasmus Ekpang, in a statement made available to newsmen in Calabar.
Notable among them were the adoption of an executive bill for the establishment of a State University of Education and Entrepreneurship at Awi, Akamkpa local government area of the state.
According to Ekpang, the status of the hitherto College of Education at the said location, would be upgraded to produce high level entrepreneurs to meet current realities.
EXCO, according to the statement, also approved the acceptance of Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria, AMCON’s offer to settle outstanding indebtedness for Tinapa Business Resort, which will see the state in 18 months making full redemption of its obligations through equal monthly instalments, thereby paving way for future investment and revitalization for the state.
It also approved the revised scope of work and renovation of the state library complex as well as the proposal for urban water rehabilitation to be facilitated by development partners without cost to the state government, as the said funds would be credited as grants in tranches within the duration of the project.
Continuing, the statement added that, EXCO approved a strategic collaboration between Universities and state ministries, departments and agencies, for the promotion of local fabrication of basic necessities in agriculture, educational materials, water and sanitation including healthcare, in order to generate employment.
Ekpang in the same vein, disclosed that approval was given for the release of counterpart funds and procurement of four operational trucks that would facilitate implementation of the Special Agro Industrial Processing Zones programme which Cross River remains the only state in the South-South zone qualified to benefit from.
Other approvals as disclosed by the Information Commissioner was “the appraisal for project preparation and other sponsorship details to guarantee and secure the AFREXIM BANK’s 3.5 million dollars deal for the state,” as well as “the collateral funding facility from United Bank for Africa (UBA), for the Cross River water rehabilitation project.”