Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, has suspended three commissioners in his cabinet for one month due to absenteeism.
The affected officials are Solomon Azi (Grants and Donor Agencies), Victor Chukwu (Environment), and Ikeuwa Omebe (Rural Development).
According to the Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Jude Okpor, the three commissioners were absent from the State Executive Council meeting on Monday without permission.
Addressing journalists after the meeting, Okpor stated that Governor Nwifuru had warned against laxity and absenteeism among public servants. He further announced that the suspended commissioners would lose all privileges associated with their offices during the suspension period.
Additionally, the governor urged contractors handling government projects to speed up their work in line with contractual agreements, warning that legal action would be taken against defaulters.
New Government Projects Approved
As part of efforts to improve infrastructure at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp in Afikpo, the council approved the construction of staff quarters, a female hostel, and a health clinic.
“This aligns with His Excellency’s commitment to complementing President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope initiative by providing a conducive environment for corps members and staff,” Okpor said.
The council also allocated N40 million to the Ministry of Water Resources for the construction of a central water storage facility to safeguard essential equipment and consumables.
EBSU Moot Court Team Honored
The Ebonyi State Government has recognized the Ebonyi State University (EBSU) Faculty of Law team for their outstanding achievement at the 33rd Christof Heyns African Moot Court Competition held in Kigali, Rwanda, in 2024.
The team, consisting of Michael Agu-Ebeke, Ibor Cynthia Nwamaka, and their guardian, Dr. (Mrs) Chioma Vivian Iteshi, made history by becoming the first Nigerian faculty of law team to win the prestigious competition in 33 years.
In recognition of their success, Governor Nwifuru conferred Ebonyi State Honour Awards on the winners and rewarded each of them with ₦5 million.
He also urged universities and tertiary institutions in the state to focus on practical-based research to produce solution-driven graduates who can meet contemporary societal demands.
