Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, on Friday took a drastic disciplinary action against members of his Executive Council, reportedly locking out and suspending Commissioners who arrived late for the weekly State Executive Council (EXCO) meeting at Government House, Uyo.
Sources at the Government House said the Governor, who is known for his emphasis on punctuality and discipline as part of his ARISE Agenda, had arrived the EXCO Chamber at exactly 9:00 a.m. for the meeting scheduled to review key infrastructure and budget performance reports.
However, several Commissioners and Special Advisers were said to have strolled in minutes after the Governor had called the meeting to order.
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Visibly displeased, Governor Eno was said to have ordered that the doors of the chamber be locked, leaving the latecomers stranded outside. After deliberations with the early arrivals, he announced the immediate suspension of the affected Commissioners.
“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,” a source who was in the meeting told our reporter.
It was gathered that the suspended Commissioners have been 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 statement detailing the duration of the suspension and whether the affected officials will forfeit their salaries for the period.
Governor Eno, while addressing the remaining EXCO members, was quoted as saying that his administration would not tolerate laxity and that every public officer must show respect for the people by taking government business seriously.
“Lateness to official duties is a culture we must kill. If we must deliver on the ARISE Agenda, we must be disciplined. Those who cannot keep time cannot keep the trust of the people,” he reportedly said.
As of press time, the names of the affected Commissioners had not been officially released, but sources hinted that not less than five Commissioners were affected.
The action has generated mixed reactions across Uyo, with many residents praising the Governor for enforcing discipline, while others described the move as too harsh.
Efforts to reach the State Commissioner for Information for official confirmation were unsuccessful, as calls to his phone were not returned.
This is not the first time Governor Eno would be taking tough decisions on his cabinet. In January 2025, he dissolved the entire State Executive Council inherited from his predecessor to inject what he called “fresh energy” into governance.
