Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu, has approved the appointment of Orok Okon as the new Head of the State Civil Service.
Okon’s appointment, which takes effect from September 19, 2025, comes on the heels of the retirement of Dr Innocent Eteng, who bowed out after decades of service.
The governor, in a statement on Tuesday signed by his Chief Press Secretary and Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Linus Obogo, commended Eteng for his commitment to duty, describing his career as “a beacon of excellence and dedication”.
He charged the incoming Head of Service to bring fresh vision, integrity and reform-driven zeal to the role, noting that his administration is determined to entrench competent leadership across public institutions.
“The new Head of Service is expected to foster efficiency, professionalism and accountability across the public service. This appointment underscores the administration’s steadfast resolve to strengthen the machinery of governance for optimal service delivery to the people of Cross River State,” the statement read.
Governor Otu had appointed Eteng in September 2023, shortly after assuming office in May of that year. During his tenure, Eteng introduced several reforms, including the regularisation of long-serving casual workers, the planned recruitment of fresh hands to fill vacancies, and a push for merit-based career progression.
Okon, until his elevation, served as a Permanent Secretary in the state civil service, including a stint at the Ministry of Justice. With years of administrative and legal experience, he is expected to consolidate ongoing reforms and drive efficiency within the workforce.
