Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki
Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State has suspended indefinitely the State Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development, Francis Ori.
Also suspended but for 3 months are the State Commissioner for Health, Dr Moses Ekuma; Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health; the Executive Secretaries of the State Primary Healthcare Development Agency; and that of the Ebonyi State Health Insurance Agency.
The officials, according to the Commissioner for Information, Jude Okpor, were suspended for alleged misconduct and dereliction of duty.
Mr Okpor stated this on Tuesday while briefing journalists on the outcome of the State Executive Council meeting held at the New Government House Abakaliki, the State capital, on Monday.
“Following cases of gross misconduct and dereliction of duties by some government officials and matters related thereto, the Chairman of Council directed the indefinite suspension of the Honourable Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development; and three (3) months suspension of the Honourable Commissioner for Health respectively.
“In view of the development, the Special Assistant to the Governor on Primary Health was directed to take charge of the ministry in the absence of the suspended Commissioner.
Governor Nwifuru directed the suspended government officials to hand over all government properties in their possession including vehicles to the Secretary to the Government.
Engr. Okpor said that the State Executive Council has also commenced ministerial debates and defence for the MDAs, marking the commencement of the processes preceding the official presentation of the 2025 budget proposal to the House of Assembly for statutory legislative consideration and approval.
He stated that the Council further approved the Citizens budget participatory engagement which will take place on Wednesday, 27, 2024, at Ecumenical Centre, Abakaliki, by 10: 00am.
He further stated that the State Government has concluded plans for the State Broadcasting Corporation, EBBC to become a Public Liability Company registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC, adding that with the development, staff of the establishments who no longer fit into the new administrative/independent configuration of the outfits are to be posted to other MDAs where their services are needed to further their careers.
“After an exhaustive deliberation on the administrative status of the State-owned Radio and Television Stations, the EBBC, the Council approved the ceding off of the Corporation to become an independent outfit.
“This is aimed at raising the productivity level of the corporation as well boosting accruable economic returns to the State Government. The same applies to the Ebonyi State Newspapers and Publishing Corporation, Nigerian Patriot.”
“EXCO noted that this reform is not in any way tilting towards sacking any member of staff of the establishments but sees this as a move to re-jig the outfits towards making them fully independent, business-oriented and self-reliant.”
He further disclosed that the State Executive Council also directed the Head of Service to advertise for the positions of the Auditor General of the state and that of Local Government following existing vacancies.
