From Nwogha Ndubuisi, Abakaliki
Ebonyi State governor, Francis Nwifuru has suspended three commissioners for absenteeism.
The affected commissioners are Solomon Azi, who was in charge of Grants and Donor Agencies; Victor Chukwu who served as Commissioner for Environment and the Commissioner for Rural Development, Ikeuwa Omebe.
The commissioners were suspended for one month for being absent without permission during the state executive council meeting held on Monday.
Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Jude Okpor, who disclosed this at a press briefing on the outcome of the executive council meeting, said the governor warned against absenteeism and lackadaisical attitude to work by public servants.
Okpor said Nwifuru directed that the suspended commissioners be relieved of all privileges attached to their offices within the duration of the suspension.
He added that the governor warned all contractors handling government projects to expedite efforts in their delivery in accordance with contractual agreements, as it would not hesitate to use legal means to enforce compliance.
He stated that as part of the state government’s efforts to advance infrastructural needs at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp in Afikpo, the executive council approved the building of staff quarters, female hostel and health clinic.
“This is in line with His Excellency’s resolve to compliment the ‘Renewed Hope’ initiative of the President Bola Tinubu-led administration to provide a conducive environment for staff and corps members,” the commissioner said.
Okpor revealed that the council approved N40 million for the Ministry of Water Resources to construct a central water store with emphasis on the need to protect the ministry’s equipment and consumables.
The commissioner said the victorious Ebonyi State University Faculty of Law team who represented Nigeria at the 33rd Christof Heyns African Moot Court Competition held in Kigali, Rwanda, in 2024 were admitted into the prestigious Ebonyi State Honour Awardees in recognition of their trailblazing achievement.
“The chairman of the council, while conferring the awards with N5million reward each on the deserving persons, expressed delight on the exceptional feat and uncommon show of excellence of the recipients,” he added.
