Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, has suspended two commissioners from his cabinet following allegations of gross misconduct and dereliction of duties.
This was announced in a press statement issued on Tuesday by the state’s Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Jude Chikadibia-Okpor, and obtained by The Telegraph.
Governor Nwifuru ordered the indefinite suspension of the Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development, Engineer Francis Ori, while his counterpart, Dr. Moses Ekuma, Commissioner for Health and Social Development, was suspended for three months.
Also placed on three-month suspensions are the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, as well as the Executive Secretaries of the State Primary Healthcare Development Agency and the State Health Insurance Agency.
In light of these suspensions, the Governor has directed the Special Assistant on Primary Health to oversee the Ministry of Health in the absence of the suspended commissioner.
According to Okpor, the suspended officials are required to hand over all government property, including vehicles, to the State Secretary of the Government by the close of business on Monday, November 25, 2024.
This move follows the earlier indefinite suspension of the Commissioner for Water Resources, Chinedum Nkah, for dereliction of duties. Governor Nwifuru reiterated that his administration remains committed to upholding the people’s charter of needs and ensuring effective governance.
