By Victor Nwegede, Abakaliki
Governor Francis Nwifuru has directed his Special Assistant of Water Resources, Franklin Ukah, and his counterpart of Housing and Urban Development, Patrick Enyi, to take charge of their respective ministries as acting Commissioners.
The governor had yesterday directed his Special Assistant on Primary Health, Dr Sabinus Nwibo, to take charge of the State Ministry of Health as the acting commissioner.
The Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Engr Jude Okpo disclosed this yesterday in a press briefing on the outcome of the state executive council meeting in Abakaliki.
He said the Chairman of the State Executive Council meeting, in the exercise of his discretionary powers, Governor Nwifuru ‘directed the Special Assistant on Water Resources, Franklin Ukah, and Special Assistant on Housing, Patrick Enyi, to temporarily take charge of their respective ministries.
The Commissioner said the directive, according to the governor, was to ensure that the business of governance does not suffer in the absence of the suspended Commissioners.’
The suspended Commissioners included Mr. Chinedu Nkah (Water Resources, Engr Francis Ori (Housing and Urban Development), and Dr. Moses Ekuma (Health).
Mr Chinedu Nkah and Engr Francis Ori were indefinitely suspended while Dr Moses Ekuma was suspended for three months following the alleged gross conduct and dereliction of duties in their various ministries.
Governor Nwifuru’s Special Assistants, who turned into new acting commissioners, were also directed by the governor to begin their work with immediate effect.