Anambra Governor sacks 18 commissioners days before 2nd term starts

Anambra State governor, Willie Obiano, has terminated the appointment of 18 commissioners in his cabinet as well as appointees in ministries, departments and agencies.

This was disclosed in a letter signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Solo Chukwulobelu, who directed all affected parties to hand over to permanent secretaries of their respective ministries, departments and agencies or to the most senior civil servants in the absence of permanent secretaries.

The letter read, "His Excellency, Chief (Dr.) Willie Obiano, Governor of Anambra State, has directed that all political appointees and non-civil servants, heads of MDAs in the state submit their hand over notes/reports on or before Friday, 16th March, 2018 to the Permanent Secretary of their respective MDAs, or to the most senior civil servant there in the absence of a Permanent Secretary.

"All SSAs/SAs are to submit their handover notes/reports to the Permanent Secretary, Office of the SSG.

"A copy of the handover note/report must be submitted to the Secretary to the State Government on or before Friday, 16th March, 2018.

"Further to the above, political appointees and non-civil servants, heads of MDAs and SSAs/SAs under reference, are to also hand over any government project/utility vehicles in their custody to the Permanent Secretary, Office of the Secretary to the State Government on or before Friday, 16th March 2018.

"The contents of this letter are for your attention and necessary actions, as I assure you of my high regards."

Reason for dismissal of commissioners

According to a report by The Punch, a Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Media, Oliver Okpala, said the dismissal of commissioners is because the governor's first term is about to end.

He said, "It's the proper thing to do in the circumstance. When a government is transiting to a new term, it's proper to disengage all those who served in the former tenure.

"If the governor wants to reappoint anybody, then it is a fresh contract. So, the disengagement of the political appointees is normal and proper."

Governor Obiano was elected for a second term in Anambra's November 18, 2017 gubernatorial election as he won in all the 21 local government areas of the state with a total of 234,071 votes under the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

The governor's second term will start on March 17.