Ebonyi: Nwifuru dismisses SSA and two other Umahi appointees over religious issues

On Saturday, Ebonyi State Governor Francis Nwifuru announced the dismissal of the Head of Service, Mrs. Rita-Mary Okoro, the senior special assistants on religious and welfare matters, Rev. Fr. Abraham Nwali, and others who were appointed by the previous governor, David Umahu.

Recall that Umahi appointed Okoro, Nwali, the Commissioner for Workers and Transport, Ogbonna Abara, and the Commissioner for Aviation and Technology, Mrs. Obianuju Alo, to work with Nwifuru’s administration during the final session of the executive council meeting on May 27, 2023.

Umahi also retained as consultants for the state government Special Assistant on Airport Project Frank Ngwu, Special Assistant on Ring Roads Felix Otta, and Commissioner for Trade and Investment Mrs Chioma Nweze.

In a statement signed and made available to reporters in Abakaliki, the state capital of Ebonyi, by his press secretary Monday Uzor, Nwifuru announced the immediate termination of the appointments made by the former governor.

According to him, “Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru of Ebonyi State has approved the immediate termination of the appointments of all political officeholders appointed by the previous administration.”

“All affected appointees must turn over all government property in their possession to the highest-ranking civil servant in their respective Ministries, Departments, and Agencies.”

Nwifuru exempted from dismissal, however, the Permanent Secretaries and political officers of the Civil Service Commission, Judicial Service Commission, Ebonyi State Independent Electoral Commission, and Anti-Corruption/Public Complaints Commission.