Ebonyi Governor, Francis Nwifuru, has suspended the Commissioner for Health in the State, Dr Moses Ekuma, and the permanent secretary of the ministry also for three months.
The information commissioner disclosed this on Tuesday after the Executive council meeting held yesterday (Monday).
The suspension came after the governor intercepted on his way to project inspection a Toyota Dyana truck loading registers, books, and other materials from the Ministry of Health warehouse.
Nwifuru also suspended the commissioner for Housing and Urban development for three months.
“Following cases of gross misconduct and dereliction of duties by some government officials and matters related thereto, the Chairman of Council directed the indefinite suspension of the Honourable Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development and three (3) months suspension of the Honourable Commissioner for Health respectively.
“Also to proceed on a three-month suspension are the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, 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 all government properties in their possession including vehicles to the Secretary to the Government on or before the close of work on Monday, November 25, 2024.
The information commissioner also noted that the Council, approved Wednesday 27 November 2024 for Citizens budget participatory engagement.
“In preparation for the 2025 fiscal year, EXCO commenced ministerial debates and defence for the MDAs, marking the commencement of the processes preceding the official presentation of the budget proposal to the House of Assembly for statutory legislative consideration and approval”.
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