Ebonyi State Governor Francis Nwifuru has suspended the commissioners for housing and urban Development including health over alleged gross misconduct and dereliction of duties.

The Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Jude Okpor, disclosed this on Tuesday while briefing journalists on the outcome of the State Executive Council meeting held on Monday.

Mr Okpor announced that Mr Nwifuru had directed that the suspension for the commissioner for health would lapse in three months, while that of housing and urban development was indefinite.

According to Mr Okpor, also to proceed on a three-month suspension is the permanent secretary in the ministry of health.

He said, “Others are the executive secretaries of the state Primarily Healthcare Development Agency and that of the Ebonyi State Health Insurance Agency. In view of the development, the Special Assistant to the Governor on Primary Health was directed to take charge of the ministry in the absence of the suspended commissioner. The suspended government officials are to hand over government property in their possession, including vehicles, to the Secretary to the State Government on or before the close of work on November 25, 2024.’’

Mr Okpor said that in preparation for the 2025 fiscal year, the executive council had commenced ministerial debates and defence for the MDAs.

He added, “To this effect, the council further approved the citizens’ budget participatory engagement, which will take place on Wednesday, November 27, at Ecumenical Centre, Abakaliki, by 10:00am,” he said.

(NAN)