By Joy Yesufu
Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State has ordered the suspension of 87 senior government officials for failing to attend a critical state function.
The officials, comprising 25 commissioners, 14 senior special assistants, 24 special assistants, and 22 permanent secretaries are to proceed on a one-month working suspension without salary.
The suspension takes immediate effect, and the affected officials have been barred from signing any official documents during the period.
The directive was conveyed in a statement issued Monday night by the governor’s spokesperson, Monday Uzor.
“The Governor of Ebonyi State, Rt. Hon. 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,” the statement said.
Commissioners were further directed to hand over to their respective permanent secretaries.
Mr. Uzor noted that the disciplinary action was part of the governor’s broader commitment to instilling accountability, discipline, and performance among government appointees.
He emphasized that Governor Nwifuru remains firm on enforcing standards of duty and public service ethics, adding that attendance at official engagements is mandatory for all government personnel.
The list of suspended officials, attached to the statement, includes prominent names across ministries and departments of the state government.
The development has sparked strong reactions within the state’s political and administrative circles, with many observers describing the move as unprecedented in its scale.
This is the latest in a series of actions by the Nwifuru administration aimed at reinforcing executive authority and demanding greater efficiency within the state’s bureaucracy.
