Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, has suspended two commissioners from his cabinet following allegations of gross misconduct and dereliction of duties.
In a press statement issued on Tuesday, November 26, by the state’s Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Jude Chikadibia-Okpor, the governor announced the indefinite suspension of Engineer Francis Ori, Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development, and a three-month suspension for Dr. Moses Ekuma, Commissioner for Health and Social Development.
The statement also revealed that several other officials in the Ministry of Health would be placed on a three-month suspension, including the permanent secretary of the ministry, as well as the executive secretaries of both the State Primary Healthcare Development Agency and the State Health Insurance Agency.
In response to the suspensions, the Governor has appointed the Special Assistant to the Governor on Primary Health to oversee the Ministry of Health in the absence of Dr. Ekuma.
The suspended officials have been directed to hand over all government properties, including vehicles, to the State Secretary of the Government by the close of work on Monday, November 25, 2024.
This follows the earlier indefinite suspension of Chinedum Nkah, the Commissioner for Water Resources, due to similar allegations of dereliction of duties.
Governor Nwifuru emphasised that his administration remains committed to fulfilling the needs of the people, stressing that such actions are part of efforts to ensure accountability and good governance in the state.
