Finance Commissioner Visits Parastatals Of His Ministry

As part of his efforts to acquaint with his staff as well as his work environment, the Commissioner for Finance, Mr Akan Okon has embarked on official visits to Parastatals  under his Ministry.
 

At the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), situated at the State Secretariat , Uyo, the Commissioner was received by the Acting Chairman, Mr. Reuben Thomas, Directors and Heads of Units amid excitements of staff.
 

He was conducted round the offices where he inspected facilities and also interfaced  with the workers.
 

A number of issues were brought to fore, one of which was rowdiness of the office complex and the need to dislodge some of the public and private Agencies occupying the complex so as to create space for the IRS Staff.

They also solicited the intervention of the state government in the area of office furniture, vehicles for field operations,  maintenance of the building among others.
 

Responding, Mr Akan Okon commended the staff of IRS for remaining resolute to the service of the State despite the teething problems.
 

While assuring that he would take these issues up at the highest level, the Commissioner however enjoined them to also look inward to see how to remedy some of the challenges. 

In the same vein, the Commissioner for Finance visited the State Budget Office, at Wellington Bassey Way End, where he had a round table discussion with the Permanent  Secretary, Pastor Nicholas Ekarika, Heads of Directorates and Units.
 

Addressing the Budget Staff, Mr Akan Okon stated that his visit was to create a platform to foster amicable relationship  with them, know their operations and also listen to their problems for prone interventions.
 

He implored  them to see him as one of their own,and as such should  feel free to air their views, suggestions and challenges so that they could all be on the same page.
 

The Permanent Secretary for Budget Pastor Nicholas Ekarika in his remarks expressed delight for having the Commissioner in their midst in an official capacity which he described as unprececented.
He congratulated Mr. Akan Okon on his appointment to the Headship of the Finance Ministry, which he termed fixing a round peg in a round hole, and expressed optimism that the Commissioner will deploy his expertise and wealth of experience in the Banking Industry to add more value to the State economy.
Pastor Ekarika also used the medium to thank the State Governor, Chief Godswill  Akpabio for his magnanimity through prompt approval of funds  for renovation of the entire Office complex, as well as other pressing needs  which he said has promoted service delivery, pledging their continuous support  to his administration.
 

At the interactive session, some of the officers decried the assignment of wrong nomenclatures to them,  a situation they claimed have stagnated their career paths and appealed to the Commissioner  to assist them to see how to   revert the anomaly, to enable them  derive job satisfaction.
 The Commissioner shortly after conducted round the offices by the Permanent Secretary and Directors where he also met other Staff of the Parastatal.