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Ebonyi Gov Suspends Health, Housing Commissioners Over Misconduct

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5 hours ago

Nov 26, 2024.

Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, has suspended two key officials over allegations of misconduct and underperformance.

Dr. Moses Ekuma, the Commissioner for Health, was suspended for three months, while Francis Ori, the Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development, faced indefinite suspension.

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EKO HOT BLOG reports that the decision was announced during a State Executive Council meeting in Abakaliki on Monday.

According to a statement from Jude Okpor, the Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, the suspensions were a response to gross misconduct and dereliction of duties among certain officials.

The suspensions may be linked to recent controversies, including the alleged theft of government property from the Ministry of Health and the poor handling of the Amaeze Housing Scheme in Ishielu Local Government Area.

On Saturday night, Governor Nwifuru visited the health ministry’s premises and discovered six officials allegedly diverting government materials. He immediately ordered their arrest and prosecution.

Ebonyi Suspends Health Commissioners

Further disciplinary measures included the suspension of the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, and the Executive Secretaries of the State Primary Healthcare Development Agency and Ebonyi State Health Insurance Agency, each for three months.

A directive was issued for the Special Assistant to the Governor on Primary Health to temporarily manage the ministry in the absence of the suspended health commissioner.

The suspended officials were instructed to hand over all government property, including vehicles, to the Secretary to the Government by the close of work on Monday, November 25, 2024.