November 26, (THEWILL) – Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, has suspended two commissioners and other senior government officials over alleged gross misconduct and dereliction of duty.
Those affected include the Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development, Francis Ori, and the Commissioner for Health, Moses Ekuma. Others are the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, the Executive Secretary of the State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, and the Executive Secretary of the Ebonyi State Health Insurance Agency.
The announcement was made on Monday by the Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Engr. Jude Chikadibia Okpor, during a press briefing following the State Executive Council meeting.
The statement read, “Following cases of gross misconduct and dereliction of duties by some government officials, the Chairman of the Council [Governor Nwifuru] directed the indefinite suspension of the Honourable Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development and a three-month suspension for the Honourable Commissioner for Health.
“In addition, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health and the Executive Secretaries of the State Primary Healthcare Development Agency and the Ebonyi State Health Insurance Agency have been directed to proceed on a three-month suspension.”
The governor further instructed the Special Assistant on Primary Health to oversee the Ministry of Health during the suspension period.
Okpor stated that all suspended officials must hand over government property in their possession, including official vehicles, to the Secretary to the State Government.
The directive is to be complied with by the close of work on Monday, November 25, 2024.
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