Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu, has approved the appointment of Orok Okon as the new Head of the State Civil Service. His appointment takes effect from September 19, 2025, following the retirement of Dr. Innocent Eteng.
In a statement released on Tuesday by his Chief Press Secretary and Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Linus Obogo, the governor praised Dr. Eteng for decades of dedicated service. He described the retired Head of Service as a model of excellence whose commitment left a strong mark on the state’s public service.
Governor Otu urged the newly appointed Head of Service to approach the role with vision, integrity, and reform-driven energy. He emphasized that the administration is determined to place capable leaders at the helm of public institutions to ensure efficiency and accountability in service delivery.
Since assuming office in May 2023, the governor has repeatedly stressed the importance of civil service reform, with particular focus on professionalism, merit-based promotions, and improved welfare for workers. Dr. Eteng’s tenure reflected these priorities, as he oversaw the regularisation of long-serving casual workers and initiated fresh recruitment drives to fill vacancies created by mass retirements.
Before his new appointment, Orok Okon served as a Permanent Secretary in the Cross River State Civil Service, including at the Ministry of Justice. With years of administrative and legal experience, he is expected to build on existing reforms and push the civil service towards greater efficiency and professionalism.
This transition, Governor Otu noted, is part of his broader vision to reposition the civil service as the backbone of governance in Cross River. Okon now faces the task of sustaining that momentum while steering reforms that will directly impact thousands of workers across the state.
