The Governor of Ebonyi State, Engineer David Nweze Umahi has effected a major shakeup in the State’s Executive Council.
To this end, 81 members of the 106 expanded Cabinet have been dissolved in the first phase while 25 others have their services upheld at the interim.
Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Kenneth Ugbala announced this while briefing newsmen on the outcome of the State Executive Council Meeting on Friday.
“Today in the course of conducting the Council affairs, the Executive Council was just dissolved. The Council was dissolved, one is to give opportunity for the government to appraise the input of the different Ministries, Departments and Agencies so far and equally strengthen performances and capacity building in the work of MDAs…”
Dr. Ugbala gave details of the Exco members whose services were retained to include Honourable Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Chief Cletus Ofoke, Commissioner for Internal Security, Chief Stanley Emegha, Commissioner for Local Government, Chief Samuel Okoronkwo, Commissioner for Human Capital Development, Mrs. Ann Aligwe, Senior Special Adviser to the Governor on Religious and Welfare Matters, Reverend Father Abraham Nwali, Commissioner for Finance, Orlando Nweze and Commissioner for Information, Uchenna Orji, Special Assistant to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Deacon Francis Nwaze.
Others are SSA on Investment, Chioma Nweze and Commissioner for Capital City, Onyekachi Nwebonyi. Commissioner for Road Infrastructure Concession, Nweze Kings, and his counterpart in charge of Works, Ogbonnaya Obasi, Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Emaka Charles Akpuenika, Commissioner for Housing, Hon. Clement Nweke and Commissioner for Investment and Abuja Liason Office, Barr. Joseph Ekumankama.
The Special Assistants to the Governor office of the Deputy Governor, Capital City, Finance, Parks, and Medicals are also to remain in their positions.
Also, all Personal Assistants to the Governor are not affected
Also briefing newsmen, Commissioner for Human Capital Development, Mrs. Ann Aligwe said Exco approved the distribution of relief materials to the victims of the Effium and Ezza communal hostilities following the return of peace to the area.
She added that Exco also set aside funds for the empowerment of the poor in the war-ravaged community while prospective 3000 beneficiaries of the #endsars youth empowerment would soon receive their stimulus intervention.
The Commissioner also announced the directive for her office to liaise with the Head of Service to facilitate the employment of another 3000 Ebonyians into the State Civil Service. She explained that EXCO is confident in the infrastructure projects we currently have in the state with the hope that they will start generating revenue for the state from next year which will, in turn, be used to pay salaries and other expenses.
The Head of Service, Dr. Chamberlin Nwele announced that EXCO set up a Technical Committee to audit the projects and funding of UBEB from 2015 till date to unravel the level of funds management within the Board.
He also announced that following the audit report, EXCO approved that Staff of the Secondary Education Board who were owed salaries for technical reasons between March to May 2021 be paid with immediate effect.
The Senior Special Adviser to the Governor on Religious and Welfare Matters, Reverend Father Abraham Nwali said the State Government has acquired six swamps which were the objects of communal wars between Abaomege and Ishinkwo while the State House of Assembly would soon pass a law making the place a buffer zone.
He noted that people and Stakeholders of the two Communities have all agreed to lay down their arms and embrace peace while Government makes frantic efforts to permanently demarcate the disputed land.
“Today with the two Communities and the Ebonyi State Government, the peace was made, the Government officially acquired the disputed land of six swamps and has asked Attorney General and CAN to work together and see that is gazetted and the House of Assembly would pass a bill to that effect, that area has been declared a buffer zone and both Communities have signed a peace pact”
Father Nwali said the State Government also acquired the disputed land which ignited disagreement between Iyionu and Ezzillo and has given HAG and the SSA on Religious and Welfare Matters a matching order to gazette the acquisition While CAN facilitate permanent boundary demarcation.
The Honourable Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Chief Cletus Ofoke announced plans by Exco to originate a bill for a law in the State House of Assembly to checkmate the menace of fake news in the State.
“EXCO also directed the office of Honourable Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice to look into cases of fake news into the State which has eaten deep into the fabrics of the Society especially into the minds of our idle youths in the State, Exco has mandated the office of the Attorney General to see if there are areas or ways of enacting laws against purveyors of fake news in the State”
