Babatunji Wusu –
- Suspension of Officials: The Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development and the Commissioner for Health, along with key officials in the Ministry of Health, have been suspended due to misconduct and dereliction of duty.
- Citizen’s Engagement: A citizens’ budget participatory event will take place on November 27, 2024, to engage the public in the budgeting process.
- Reform of Media Outlets: EBBC will transition to a Public Liability Company to enhance its efficiency and economic viability.
- Administrative Changes: Vacancies for the Auditor General at the state and local government levels are to be advertised.
Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, has ordered the indefinite suspension of the Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development and a three-month suspension for the Commissioner for Health, following allegations of misconduct and neglect of duties. Additionally, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, the Executive Secretaries of the State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, and the Ebonyi State Health Insurance Agency have also been suspended for three months.
The suspension details were disclosed by the Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Engr. Jude Okpor, during a press briefing on Tuesday. He explained that these actions stemmed from cases of gross misconduct and dereliction of duty. In light of the suspensions, the Special Assistant to the Governor on Primary Health has been tasked with overseeing the Ministry of Health in the absence of the suspended commissioner.
Governor Nwifuru further directed the suspended officials to return all government property, including vehicles, to the Secretary to the State Government by the close of business on November 25, 2024.
During the same briefing, Okpor noted that the State Executive Council had begun the process of debating and defending ministerial reports from various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) as part of preparations for the 2025 budget proposal, which will be presented to the House of Assembly for approval.
The Council also approved a citizen’s budget participatory engagement, scheduled for November 27, 2024, at the Ecumenical Centre in Abakaliki.
In a significant development for the state’s media sector, the Council authorized the Ebonyi State Broadcasting Corporation (EBBC) to become a Public Liability Company registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC). This move aims to enhance the corporation’s productivity and increase economic returns to the state. Additionally, the Ebonyi State Newspapers and Publishing Corporation, Nigerian Patriot, will undergo similar restructuring.
Okpor emphasized that the reforms were designed to improve the autonomy, business orientation, and self-reliance of these state-owned media outlets, and are not intended to result in layoffs but rather to streamline operations.
Finally, the Council directed the Head of Service to advertise the vacancies for the Auditor General of the state and the local government.
