Ebonyi State government shakeup: Nwifuru suspends commissioners , sacks three others over absenteeism

Judith Echefu, Abakaliki

Ebonyi State Governor Nwifuru has made a bold move, suspending commissioners and sacking three others due to absenteeism.

This drastic measure was announced by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Grace Umezurike, in a statement released on Tuesday.

The affected officials have been ordered to hand over all government properties in their possession.

The affected Commissioners are Solomon Azi(Grants and Donor Agencies), Victor Chukwu (Environment), and Ikeuwa Omebe(Rural Development.

The Commissioners were suspended for one month for being absent without any permission during the state executive council meeting held on Monday this week.

Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Jude Okpor disclosed this at a press briefing on the outcome of the executive council meeting.

He noted that the Governor warned against absenteeism and lackadaisical attitude to work by public servants of the state.

Okpor further said Nwifuru directed that the suspended commissioners be relieved of all the privileges attached to their offices within the duration of the suspension.

He opined that the Governor used the opportunity to warn all the contractors handling government projects in the state to expedite efforts in the delivery of such projects by contractual agreements, as the government would not hesitate to use all legal means to enforce compliance.

He stated that as part of the State Government’s efforts to advance the infrastructural needs at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Afikpo, the Executive Council approved the execution of the following projects: Staff quarters, Female hostel, and Health Clinic projects.

“This is in line with His Excellency’s resolve to compliment the Renewed Hope initiative of the President Bola Tinubu-led administration to provide a conducive environment for both staff and corps members of the scheme”, the Commissioner said.

Okpor further revealed that the council approved N40 million for the Ministry of Water Resources to construct a central water store with emphasis on the need to protect the ministry’s equipment and consumables.

The Commissioner said the Victorious EBSU Faculty of Law Team comprising Michael Agu-Ebeke, Ibor Cynthia Nwamaka and their guardian, Dr. (Mrs) Chioma Vivian Iteshi, who represented Nigeria at the 33rd Christof Heyns African Moot Court Competition held in Kigali Rwanda in 2024 were admitted into the prestigious Ebonyi State Honour Awardees in recognition of their trailblazing achievement.

“In one of the fiercest tests of legal brilliance in the African continent, the Ebonyi State University team emerged victorious, defeating 68 other Anglophone and 15 Francophone teams in a keenly contested battle of legal knowledge, thereby becoming the first Nigerian faculty of law to do so, in 33 years.

“The Chairman of the council while conferring the awards with five million naira (N5m) reward each on the deserving persons, expressed delight on the exceptional feat and uncommon show of excellence of the recipients, and expressed his administration’s commitment to prioritising educational transformation in the state. He, however, enjoined the leadership of Ebonyi State University and other tertiary institutions in the state to embrace practical-based research to produce solution-oriented graduates in line with the demands of contemporary society”, Okpor stated.

In a related development, Governor Nwifuru has sacked two special advisers for alleged gross misconduct.

The affected aides are Mr. Nnannna Nwangele – Special Assistant to the Governor on Airport Security; and Mr. Felix Okemini – Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Security (Ebonyi North).

The Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Grace Umezurike, announced the sack in a statement on Tuesday.

The statement ordered the affected officials to hand over all government properties in their possession to the Secretary to Ebonyi State Government no later than 4pm today,, March 18, 2025.

According to the statement, “The officers should, henceforth not be seen anywhere around Government House or participate in any Government activity.”