Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, has suspended three commissioners from his cabinet for absenteeism.
The affected officials are Solomon Azi (Grants and Donor Agencies), Victor Chukwu (Environment), and Ikeuwa Omebe (Rural Development). They were suspended for one month after failing to attend Monday’s state executive council meeting without permission.
Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Jude Okpor, announced the suspension during a press briefing on the meeting’s outcome. He emphasized that Governor Nwifuru had previously warned public servants against absenteeism and a lackadaisical attitude to work.
According to Okpor, the governor also directed that the suspended commissioners be stripped of all privileges attached to their offices during the suspension period.
In a related development, Nwifuru cautioned contractors handling government projects in the state to speed up their work, warning that the government would use all legal means to ensure compliance with contractual agreements.
Meanwhile, as part of efforts to improve infrastructure at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp in Afikpo, the executive council approved the construction of staff quarters, a female hostel, and a health clinic.
“This aligns with His Excellency’s commitment to complement the Renewed Hope initiative of President Bola Tinubu’s administration by providing a conducive environment for both staff and corps members,” Okpor stated.
Additionally, the council approved N40 million for the Ministry of Water Resources to build a central water store, emphasizing the need to protect ministry equipment and consumables.
In recognition of academic excellence, the council also conferred the prestigious Ebonyi State Honour Award on the victorious Ebonyi State University (EBSU) Faculty of Law team. The team, consisting of Michael Agu-Ebeke, Ibor Cynthia Nwamaka, and their guardian, Dr. (Mrs.) Chioma Vivian Iteshi, represented Nigeria at the 33rd Christof Heyns African Moot Court Competition in Kigali, Rwanda, and emerged victorious.
“In one of the fiercest tests of legal brilliance on the African continent, the EBSU team defeated 68 Anglophone and 15 Francophone teams, becoming the first Nigerian faculty of law to achieve this feat in 33 years,” Okpor said.
The council chairman awarded each winner ₦5 million in recognition of their achievement and reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to prioritizing educational transformation in the state.
He also urged Ebonyi State University and other tertiary institutions in the state to embrace practical-based research to produce solution-oriented graduates in line with modern societal demands.
