Cross River Governor Ayade Gives Out 54 SUVs To LG Chairmen, Deputies

Cross River State Governor Ben Ayade presents 54 SUVs to Chairmen, Deputies, leaders of 18 local government councils.

The SUVs consist of 18 Ford Edge (Chairmen), 18 Ford Escape (Deputies) and 18 Ford EcoSport (Council Leaders).

The Governor of Cross River State, Ben Ayade, on Wednesday presented 54 Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) to officials of the 18 local government councils in the state.

The 54 vehicles consist of 18 Ford Edge, 18 Ford Escape and 18 Ford EcoSport subcompact Sports Utility Vehicles.

The chairmen of the 18 local government councils in Cross River state received Ford Edge SUVs. The Ford Escape was given to vice-chairmen, while the leaders of council received the Ford EcoSport SUVs.

During the presentation at the Governor’s Office, Calabar, Ayade charged the officials to make effective use of their official vehicles.

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Ayade, who was represented by his deputy, Ivara Esu, said :

“It’s not about giving cars, what is happening is important at this time we are now. With zero allocation, COVID-19 and the economic crisis, if we were to rely on federal allocation, even salaries will not be paid.”

The Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, Stella Odey, while explaining how the vehicles were procured, said :

“The funds came through their individual local government accounts.

“The cars are not free gifts; they were purchased through the JAAC Accounts and going by NFIU regulations; they were procured by the chairmen themselves and the funds came through their individual local government accounts.

“The governor kept funds for them even before they came in and that’s why we have been able to purchase the cars.

“It’s their entitlement because it has always been a practice that the chairmen of councils considering the exigencies of their office deserve mobility.”

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