Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has reportedly taken disciplinary action against some members of his State Executive Council (EXCO) for arriving late to the weekly EXCO meeting at the Government House in Uyo.
According to sources at the Government House, the Governor, who places strong emphasis on punctuality and discipline under his administration’s ARISE Agenda, arrived at the EXCO Chamber at exactly 9:00 a.m., when the meeting was scheduled to commence.
However, several Commissioners and Special Advisers were reportedly still absent when the meeting began, with some said to have arrived several minutes after the Governor had called the meeting to order.
Displeased by their lateness, Governor Eno was said to have directed that the doors of the chamber be locked, preventing the latecomers from joining the meeting.
After proceeding with deliberations with the officials who arrived on time, the Governor reportedly announced the immediate suspension of the affected Commissioners.
A source who was present at the meeting said the Governor had repeatedly warned members of his administration that punctuality was non-negotiable.
“The Governor has warned repeatedly that punctuality is non-negotiable. He arrived early and waited. When some members were still not seated by the scheduled time, he directed that they should not be allowed in,” the source said.
The affected Commissioners were also reportedly barred from attending official functions and accessing their offices pending a formal directive from the Secretary to the State Government, Prince Enobong Uwah.
The SSG is expected to issue an official communication clarifying the duration of the suspension and other administrative consequences, including whether the affected officials would forfeit their salaries during the period.
Governor Eno was further quoted as telling the remaining EXCO members that his administration would not tolerate laxity among public officers, stressing the need for every official to demonstrate respect for the people through discipline, commitment and punctuality.
The reported action underscores the Governor’s emphasis on accountability and strict adherence to official schedules among members of his administration.
