By Sophia Afolabi
Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, has suspended 87 senior government officials, including 25 commissioners, for one month without pay for failing to attend an official state function.
The sweeping disciplinary action also affects 22 permanent secretaries, 14 senior special assistants (SSAs), and 24 special assistants (SAs). The suspension takes immediate effect and bars the affected officials from signing any official documents during the suspension period.
This was disclosed in a statement issued by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Dr. Monday Uzor.
According to the statement, commissioners are to hand over their duties to their respective permanent secretaries for the duration of the suspension.
Prominent members of the governor’s cabinet affected include the Commissioner for Works, Stanley Lebechi Mbam; Commissioner for Finance, Prof. Leonard Uguru; Commissioner for Lands and Survey, Matthew Nwobashi; and Commissioner for Markets and Parks Development, Prof. Nwogo Obasi.
Others include Victor Chukwu (Environment), Jude Okpor (Rural Development), Ikeuwa Omebe (Information & State Orientation), Chidi Onyia (Solid Minerals), and Dr. Ben Odo (Attorney General and Justice).
Also suspended are Dr. Moses Ekuma (Health), Dr. Donatus Ilang (Primary & Secondary Education), Mrs. Ngozi Obichukwu (Aviation and Transport Technology), and several others across ministries including Youth and Sports, Agriculture, Water Resources, ICT, and Capital City Development.
The statement noted that some of the suspended officials had previously faced similar disciplinary actions. Commissioner for Environment, Victor Chukwu, was earlier suspended for misconduct and was only recently reinstated during a cabinet reshuffle.
Other repeat offenders include Commissioners Francis Ori, Magnus Noah, and Moses Ekuma, all previously sanctioned over alleged gross misconduct.
The Governor’s action underscores his administration’s strict stance on accountability and adherence to official responsibilities within the public service.
