C’RIVER COMMISSIONER FOR EDUCATION HOLDS END-OF-YEAR MEETING WITH MANAGEMENT & STAFF IN CALABARDecember 12, 2025The Cross River State Commissioner for Education, Senator Professor Stephen Odey, on Friday held the 2025 end-of-year meeting with management and staff of the Ministry in Calabar, reaffirming his commitment to reforms, accountability, and improved welfare across the education sector.Addressing the staff, the Commissioner noted that it has become his tradition to meet with the entire workforce at the end of every year to review achievements, challenges, and projections for the coming year. He commended all departments—particularly the Department of Quality Assurance and Exams and Certificate Unit—for their dedication to the ministry’s mandate.Professor Odey highlighted several of the ministry’s major accomplishments in 2025. He recalled that upon assuming office, he discovered long-serving casual workers who had spent up to 12 years earning between ₦10,000 and ₦15,000 monthly. Describing the situation as unacceptable, he immediately initiated the process of regularization. “I can proudly say that about 21 of those casual staff are today gainfully employed. Some have already started receiving their salaries,” he said as he congratulated the newly regularized workers for their patience and long-standing commitment.Senator Odey also emphasized the ministry’s strengthened partnership with the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), noting that under his leadership, more than 1,420 private schools have been duly approved. He stressed that all private schools must be registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) as part of efforts to sanitize the system. He disclosed that a recent review identified 905 private schools operating illegally in the state. Following a memo to the Governor requesting authority to clamp down on such schools, approval was immediately granted. “So far, about 256 illegal schools have come forward to regularize their operations,” he stated, adding that over 251 other schools have purchased approval forms, generating significant revenue for the state. He further warned that there will be zero tolerance for illegal schools when the ministry resumes activities in January 2026.On financial reforms, Professor Odey said the ministry has made substantial progress in revenue generation. “Because we do not tolerate fraud, and after sanitizing revenue processes with principals and headteachers, we haveincreased revenue,” he said.He added that enrollment records across schools were cleaned up after discovering multiple cases of under-declaration.The Commissioner announced that all state examination results have been released, Junior Secondary School Certificates (BECE) issued, and registration for the 2026 examinations has commenced. He assured that the ministry is ready for a comprehensive book review exercise once it receives clearance from the state government.He further disclosed that additional office furniture had already been provided, with more expected by early 2026 to ensure a comfortable working environment for all staff.Demonstrating personal generosity, Senator Odey presented Christmas palliatives to all management and staff.“I decided to make my own personal support because the success of this ministry is impossible without all of you,” he said, while urging staff to return from the holidays with renewed commitment, noting that the ministry’s performance in 2025 had earned national recognition.The Commissioner also revealed that he was recently appointed to the Governing Council of the National Teachers’ Institute (NTI), attributing the honour partly to the ministry’s achievements.“The ministry has brought me good fortune. It was right here that I became an Associate Professor, and shortly after, a Professor,” he said.Speaking on behalf of management and staff, the Director of Administration, Mr. Obetem Obetem, described the Commissioner as a rare and exemplary leader. “Any leader who shines outside while his staff remain unhappy is not worth celebrating. But you have carried everyone along, and we pray that God blesses you continually,” he said, as he thanked the Commissioner for prioritizing staff welfare, driving meaningful reforms, and demonstrating humility in leadership. He assured him of the staff’s commitment to sustaining the ministry’s progress for the good of Cross River State.The Commissioner thanked all staff and charged them to remain committed to advancing the vision and mission of Governor Bassey Otu, who remains passionate about transforming the state’s education sector.#Office_Of_The_Commissioner_For_Education_CRS