By Sophia Oyem

The Students Union Vice President of University of Uyo in Akwa Ibom State, Miss Blessing Jaja, has announced the appointment of eighteen (18) aides to assist in the smooth running of the activities in the office of the Vice President of the Students’ Union.

In a letter dated 11^th October, 2021, personally signed by Jaja and sighted by AbujaCityJournal, the University’s deputy students’ leader appointed the persons as team members and advisers.

“In a bid to assist in the smooth running of the activities in the office of the Vice President of the students’ Union, University of Uyo, Uyo, I have approved the appointment of the following persons as team members and advisers,” the letter read.

Among the appointees are: Mary Joseph Okon, Chief of Staff; Felicia MacAnthony, SA, General Administration; Usen Emem James, Chief Press Secretary; Anni Esther, Personal Assistant, General Affairs; Abasiono Okon, SA, Special Duties; her counterpart in Women Affairs, Precious Ekong; SA, Branding and Public Relations I&II, Joseph James Ubom and Effiong Victor Edet respectively.

Others are Special Adviser on Media and Publicity I&II, Anthony Alexis and Stephen David Jnr respectively; their Welfare and Hospitality counterpart, Esther Victory; that of Academics, Usen Okon Mark; SA, Health, Edidiong Usip and Protocol & Due Process Chief, Uko-Abasi Utibeabasi Deborah and her junior in the portfolio, Chinda Maruchi Don-Richman.

The remaining aides are Special Adviser on Policy Making, Ernest Usoroh; that of Technology, Edinak Michael and their counterpart in Political Affairs, Inyang EmemAbasi Godwin.

The letter stated that the appointments take immediate effect.

But speaking to AbujaCityJournal’s Correspondent on phone from Uyo on Tuesday, the youthful Union leader explained that there was nothing strange about the appointments.

Jaja said those she appointed are all volunteers and will serve without receiving any payment but to utilize the opportunity of her office to express their innovations and ideas to assist the students through her office.

“No, they’re not to be paid. These are my supporters that have been with me, and they worked with me at the election. They will just use the opportunity of their appointments to assist the Union through their ideas and innovations,” Jaja said.

She added that most all the appointees had previously played crucial roles in her victory at the elections and that the appointments were to appreciate them by drawing them closely to continue to contribute their quotas towards supporting her and the Students’ Union government of the University.

Jaja said this has become a pattern considering that the president of the Union had similarly appointed about thirty (30) other associates to support him to deliver on the job.