Ebonyi Governor Nwifuru Suspends 87 Top Officials Over Absence at Government Event
Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru of Ebonyi State has suspended 87 senior government officials for failing to attend a critical state event, describing their absence as gross irresponsibility. The suspension, which took effect immediately, was announced in a statement released late Monday by the governor’s spokesperson, Monday Uzor.
The suspension will last for one month. During this period, the affected officials will forfeit their salaries and are barred from signing any official documents or participating in government activities. Commissioners on the suspension list have also been directed to hand over to the most senior civil servants in their respective ministries.
According to the statement, the action was taken to instill discipline and reaffirm the administration’s commitment to responsibility and dedication in public service. “The Governor of Ebonyi State, Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, has directed that the underlisted government functionaries proceed on one-month working suspension without salary for failure to attend an important government function,” Uzor stated.
Among those suspended are 25 commissioners, including Prof. Leonard Uguru, Hon. Victor Chukwu, Barr. Ikeuwa Omebe, Dr. Ngozi Obichukwu, and Hon. Stanley Ogbuewu. Others affected are 14 senior special assistants such as Hon. Bassey Chukwu, Mrs. Rose Ofoke, and Barr. Caleb Onwe; and 24 special assistants including Tobias Ogbonna, Dr. Sabinus Nwibo, Emeka Okpa Onwe, and Kizito Nwenyi.
The suspension also affected 22 permanent secretaries, including Dr. Lawrence Ezeogo, Barr. Emmanuel Onwe, Mrs. Rose Ibe, Dr. Gabriel Odo, and Mrs. Mary Ngozi Otozi.
The large-scale disciplinary action has sparked wide discussion within government circles and the public, with many viewing it as a strong signal of Governor Nwifuru’s intolerance for laxity and disregard for duty. This move is one of the boldest displays of executive discipline by the Nwifuru administration and is expected to set the tone for future governance in the state.
