Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Mrs Ngozi Queen Obioma has been appointed the substantive Head of Service of Abia State by Governor Alex Otti.
Her appointment, which takes effect from December 1, 2023, was contained in a release signed by the Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Professor Kenneth Kalu.
According to the release, Otti congratulated the new Head of Service on her appointment while commending the outgoing Acting Head of Service, Lady Joy Maduka, for her contributions and wished her well in her new position.
Meanwhile, the release did not provide any information about the “new position” of Lady Maduka who was until her elevation as the Acting HOS, the Director in the Ministry of Education.
Ikengaonline had reported that Gov Otti, had about two months after assuming office, directed the immediate suspension of all Permanent Secretaries in the state civil service including the former HOS, Mr Onyi Wamah.
They were directed to hand over to the most senior Director in their respective Ministries.
The suspension came shortly after Otti inaugurated a Judicial Panel of Inquiry on the Recovery of Properties and Funds belonging to Abia State Government.
Although it is hoped that some of the suspended Permanent Secretaries could be recalled after the on-going probe, the Governor had earlier this month appointed 24 new Permanent Secretaries, thus raising doubts if the suspended Perm Secs would ever be recalled.
Otti had recently activated a policy mandating Directors who have served for eight years or Perm Secs who have stayed for four years to proceed on compulsory retirement.
The Governor has vowed to sanitise and restore dignity of service in the Abia civil service system.
