by By Blessing Enagu
The Chairman of the Cross River State Forestry Commission, Chief Tony Undiandeye has stated that he will defend his staff with his blood, should any body interfere or intimidate them in the discharge of their duties.
Chief Undiandeye, disclosed this at the inaugural meeting with Staff within the Directorate cadre in the Commission recently in his office, also stated that the meeting was to familiarize himself and seek understanding from the top echelon of the Commission on ways of achieving their mandate.
The Chairman assured staff that he will operate an open- door policy and an administration that gives priority to workers safety and welfare, stressing that “I will defend my staff to any level with my blood” adding that he would confront any person who interferes with staff unduly in the line of duty.
He however encouraged them to be transparent in discharging their duties, as actions capable of undermining the position of the Commission shall not be condoned.
The Forestry Commission Chairman while addressing salient issues, maintained that his administration will work towards providing office accommodation, vehicles and other provisions that will create good working environment for maximum productivity of Staff.
Chief Undiandeye also maintained that the vacuum created by a retired director in the Commission would be filled according to the Civil Service rules and warned that agitation and animosity should not be generated because no Department is superior to the other.
The new Chairman commended staff on the declaration and compoundment of timber exercise recently carried out across the State, noting that despite the many challenges encountered, it recorded huge success to the extent that it mitigated the last scale of people carrying forest products without corresponding revenue to the government.
In his response, the Permanent Secretary of the Cross River State Forestry Commission, Mr Ogbang Akwaji congratulated the Chairman on his appointment and confirmation as Chairman of the Commission describing him as the right choice for the position.
Mr. Akwaji conveyed the confidence reposed in the Chairman by Staff who had yearned for a passionate leader with so much capacity to reposition the sector in a sustainable development path and pledged the cooperation of Staff to the new leadership.
He restated the need for a re-invention, re-orientation and more interface with Veteran Foresters whose wealth of knowledge can be utilized and called on the Chairman to use his position to influence the review and lifting of ban on logging so that the Commission can be well positioned to regulate and ensure a sustainable forest management in the State.
The Permanent Secretary further lamented that the embargo have made the government financially castrated and have also disconnected the forest bearing communities from government because the government through the Commission is no longer getting revenue and the communities are equally not getting their benefits.
