By Kammonke Abam
The Commissioner for Science and Technology, Justin Beshel, has taken an early lead in the race for the best performing Commissioner in Gov. Bassey Otu’s government
This is based on the deluge of responses so far received of the assessment questionnaire shared via WhatsApp and Facebook by livesonline.ng in the build up to the mid-term performance assessment of the Senator Otu’s governorship
Others trailing very closely behind Commissioner Beshel are Oden Ewa of the Ministry of Special Duties and Inter-governmental Affairs; Johnson Ebokpo Jr. of Ministry of Agriculture; Ani, Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice; as well as Dr. Bong Duke of the State Planning Commission.
The Works Commissioner, Hon. Pius Ankpo; Health Commissioner, Dr. Egbe Ayuk; and Environment Commissioner, Hon. Moses Osogi are neck-to-neck in the race of who follows the leading quintile.
Respondents who tipped Beshel as the best commissioner reeled out a catalogue of his Ministry’s achievements. One of them described him as a silent performer.
Among the accomplishments credited to him is building a Pay-self service portal for the Internal Revenue Service which enables citizens to voluntarily pay their taxes, generate their Tax Identification Number (TIN), as well as apply for Tax Clearance certificates and verification statuses. This application has drastically reduced human contact during these activities thereby ensuring more efficiency.
A triangulation of the media reportage on him shows that he built and deployed a Central Authentication and Payment System (CAPS), a custom-built solution that is addressing governance procedures and service delivery.
He is also credited with building the Governor’s Mobile App. The app, according to the respondent, is a digital solution that empowers Governor Otu to have real time oversight of the state’s revenue base.
Similarly, the Beshel’s ministry has also launched “My Cross River App”, a digital technology that facilitates citizens engagement with government, government to government engagement as well as access to information about activities of government.
Among Departments, Boards, and Commissions, the Carnival Commission headed by Dr. Gabe Onah, MEDA, headed by Great Ogban Usetu; and Department of Public Transportation (DOPT) top the list. They have garnered a lot of commendation from the respondents.
Most of the other members of the State Executive Council, Chairman of Boards and Commissions, and DGs of agencies just have a trickle of people sharing their accomplishments.
With tons of responses still coming, it may be too early in the day to predict the final outcome of who will be adjudged the best Commissioner as respondents are still rooting for their preferred Commissioners.
The process will be wound up on May 27, 2025 to enable livesonline.ng editors complete the analytics and announce the results.
