Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, has suspended three commissioners for one month due to their absence from the state Executive Council (EXCO) meeting held on March 17.
The suspended officials are Solomon Azi, Commissioner for Grants and Donor Agencies; Victor Chukwu, Commissioner for Environment; and Ikeuwa Omebe, Commissioner for Rural Development.
The suspension was announced on Tuesday by the state’s Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Jude Okpor, during a briefing after the weekly EXCO meeting. Okpor noted that the commissioners were absent without prior permission.
According to him, Governor Nwifuru has also directed that all privileges attached to their offices be withdrawn for the duration of their suspension.
“Nwifuru warned against absenteeism and lackadaisical attitude to work by public servants in the state,” Okpor stated.
The governor also used the opportunity to caution contractors working on government projects, urging them to speed up their work and adhere strictly to contractual agreements. He noted that the state government would take legal action against any contractor who fails to comply.
In addition to the suspensions, Okpor disclosed that the state government has approved the construction of a staff quarters, female hostel, and health clinic at the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) permanent orientation camp in Afikpo.
He noted that this project aligns with Governor Nwifuru’s commitment to improving infrastructure and supporting the federal government’s Renewed Hope Initiative.
The briefing also highlighted the government’s recognition of the Ebonyi State University (EBSU) law team, which represented Nigeria at the 33rd Christof Heyns African Moot Court Competition in Kigali, Rwanda.
“The team comprising Michael Agu-Ebeke, Cynthia Ibor and their Instructor, Dr Chioma Iteshi, were bestowed with the prestigious Ebonyi State Honours Awards and a cash gift of N3million each,” he said.
“The team emerged victorious by defeating 68 Anglophone and 15 Francophone teams in a keenly contested battle of legal knowledge.
“The team thus becomes the first Nigerian faculty of law to do so, in 33 years,” he said.
