Akwa Ibom: Gov Eno Dissolves Inherited State Executive Council, Says Members Performed Well

By Ayodele Oni

Despite lending credence to their performance, Akwa Ibom state Governor, Umo Eno has dissolved the State Executive Council.

At a valedictory council session on Friday,  Governor Eno lauded the contributions of the outgoing cabinet members, acknowledging their committed roles in the success of his administration’s Arise Agenda.

The governor stated that “For me, if you were to be changed based on non-performance, I think none of the commissioners would go. All of you have delivered, and that’s why the Arise Agenda has succeeded. But we must come to the end of a season, start another season, and keep moving.”

Governor Eno inherited most members of his cabinet from his predecessor, Udom Emmanuel, retaining them to ensure continuity and reward their past efforts.

However, he had previously hinted of plans to restructure the cabinet to inject fresh ideas into governance.

During the state’s 37th anniversary celebration in September 2023, Governor Eno announced his intention to dissolve the council and bring in new professionals to steer the administration forward.

While the majority of the cabinet members were retained from the previous administration, the Ministry of Internal Security was the only newly created portfolio under Governor Eno, led by General Koko Essien (rtd).

Two key vacancies in the Ministries of Environment and of Special Duties have remained vacant since the exit of Unoh Etim Unoh and Dr. Bassey Okon, who resigned to contest the last Local Government election.