Cross River State Government Denies Stopping Prayers In Public Schools - See How Perm Sec Will Be Punished

The Cross River State government has said, a circular suspending assemblies in schools, issued by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Mrs Anne O. Odey, should be disregarded.

A statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Barr Tina Banku Agbor, on Friday said that the circular was neither at the instance of the State Governor, Professor Ben Atade nor with his knowledge.

“The Permanent Secretary claims to have issued the circular based on the directive of the State Commissioner of Police who was purportedly acting at the instance of the Inspector-General of Police, over security concerns," the statement added

The statement said, it is not the policy of Ayade's administration to infringe on the freedom of worship of Cross River's and all who reside in the state.

The Governor has, however, directed the investigation of circumstances surrounding the issuance of the circular by the Permanent Secretary without recourse to higher authorities and recommend appropriate sanctions for the breach of protocol.