Perhaps to demonstrate the intention of his ministry to rid the state’ s educational system of truant staff, Cross River State Commissioner for Education, Offiong Offiong, has directed that the principal of Eko Inika Secondary School, Ekori, Yakurr LGA in the state’s Central Senatorial District, Egu Ikpi Ewa, be suspended from office.
Offiong gave this directive when he paid an unscheduled visit to the school as part of his state wide visit to schools. On arrival at the school at 8 am, the Commissioner is said to have found only a handful of staff on ground with the principal visibly absent. While students were sparsely in school, most absent staff had already signed the time book, an abnormal situation that drew the Commissioner’s ire.
Accordingly, Offiong directed the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Anne Otelafu Odey, to write and officially suspend Ewa from office. That directive has since been carried out as state broadcast outfit, CRBC Radio, has subsequently announced the suspension of the principal in a release signed by Odey.
