Governor Francis Nwifuru has suspended the Ebonyi State Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development, Engr Francis Ori, indefinitely, and his counterpart of the Ministry of Health, Dr Moses Ekuma, for three months.
The Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Engr Jude Okpo, who made this known while briefing pressmen on the outcome of the State Executive meeting Tuesday in Abakaliki, said the governor suspended the two commissioners as a result of their gross misconduct and dereliction of duties.
Okpo said, the governor also suspended three other government officials including the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Lawrence Ezeoke, the Executive Secretary of the State Primarily Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Philip Emeka Ovuoba, and his counterpart of the Ebonyi State Health Insurance Agency, EBSHIA, Dr Divine Igwe for three months respectively.
He added that Governor Nwifuru has directed his Special Assistant on Primary Health to take charge of the ministry in the absence of the suspended Commissioner, Dr. Moses Ekuma, with immediate effect.
"Following cases of gross misconduct and dereliction of duties by some government officials and matters related thereto, the Chairman of Council directed the indefinite suspension of the Honourable Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development and three (3) months suspension of the Honourable Commissioner for Health respectively.
"Also to proceed on a three-month suspension are the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, the Executive Secretaries of the State Primarily Healthcare Development Agency and that of the Ebonyi State Health Insurance Agency.
"In view of the development, the Special Assistant (SA) to the Governor on Primary Health was directed to take charge of the ministry in the absence of the suspended Commissioner.
"The suspended government officials are to hand over all government properties in their possession, including vehicles, to the Secretary to the Government on or before the close of work on Monday, November 25, 2024," the Information Commissioner said.
