Ebonyi Governor Francis Nwifuru Suspends 25 Commissioners, 38 Aides Over Absence at Official Event

Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, has suspended 85 political appointees, including 25 commissioners, 38 special aides, and 22 permanent secretaries, over their failure to attend an important government event.

The action, announced in a statement by Monday Uzor, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, on Monday, will see the affected officials proceed on a one-month working suspension without salary.

According to the statement, the suspension affects 25 commissioners, 14 senior special assistants, 24 special assistants, and 22 permanent secretaries who were absent without permission.

“The officials will proceed on a ‘one-month working suspension without salary’,” Uzor said.

He added that Governor Nwifuru had directed that all suspended officials should refrain from signing any official documents during the suspension period.

“The CPS said the affected commissioner should hand over to their respective permanent secretaries,” the statement read.

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Among the suspended commissioners are Stanley Lebechi Mbam, Leonard Uguru, Mathew Nwobashi, and Victor Chukwu. The list of aides includes Bassey Chukwu, Rose Ofoke, Mbam Emmanuel, and Tobias Ogbonna, among others, while permanent secretaries such as Lawrence Ezeogo, Isioma Arunne-Inyang, and Rose Ibe are also affected.

This is not the first time the Ebonyi governor has taken disciplinary action against appointees. In March, Nwifuru sacked two aides, Felix Okemini, Senior Special Assistant on Security (Ebonyi North), and Nnanna Nwangele, Special Assistant on Airport Security, over allegations of misconduct.

The latest suspension is seen as a strong message to public officials on discipline and commitment under the Nwifuru administration.