Ebonyi Governor sacks 16 newly appointed Perm. Sec.

Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi has reversed the appointment of 16 Permanent Secretaries made by former Governor Martin Elechi, barely a week to the end of his administration.

Umahi made the reversal on Thursday, June 4 in Abakaliki during a meeting with the leadership of the organised labour in the state and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).

He said that the appointment of additional permanent secretaries will therefore create more problems for the state government.

"The state government is finding it difficult to pay workers’ salaries as it grapples with the challenge of meeting other financial needs.

"The appointment was also riddled with controversies and has witnessed several agitations against it by organised labour and other relevant stakeholders,” he said.

The governor has set up a committee headed by the State Deputy Governor, Kelechi Igwe, to look into the accounts of the state government and make adequate representation to the government.

"I call on workers to be ready to make some sacrifices and offer necessary cooperation to ensure that the state attains its developmental goals,” he said.

The governor also ordered the immediate sack of the General Manager of the State Environmental Protection Agency (EBSEPA), Dr Chukwuemeka Okeh.

The sack followed a complaint by one of the labour leaders on the filthy nature of the state, especially Abakaliki.

"The contract of environmental contractors which was earlier terminated has been reversed immediately, to ensure that the heaps of refuse littering the capital city are evacuated,” he said.

The Nigeria Labour Congress Chairman (NLC) in the state, Ikechukwu Nwafor, urged the state government to block all leakages noticed in public expenditure.