EBONYI STATE SSG RESIGNS, ELECHI RESHUFFLES CABINET

By Obinna Ogbonnaya



The Ebonyi State governor, Chief Martin Elechi, yesterday sacked the secretary to the state government (SSG), Chief Fidelix Mbam and reshuffled the State Executive Council following the resignation of some commissioners and special advisers to enable them contest the February general election in the state under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Governor Elechi, who announced the sack of the SSG and reshuffling of his cabinet at the Government House, Abakaliki, while swearing-in the newly appointed SSG, Chief Boniface Chima, stated that Chief Mbam was relieved of his duties on health grounds.

Chief Mbam was appointed by the former governor of the state, Dr Sam Egwu as the chief of staff, Government House, and was appointed by Governor Elechi on his assumption of office as the SSG but in the last four months, Chief Mbam has been out of the country attending to his deteriorating health condition.

“Governor Elechi noted that vacancies were created with the resignation of some commissioners and special advisers, making it necessary to reassign other functions to the people that are left.

According to him, Engr Chukwuma Nwandugo, the commissioner for works and transport, has been given additional function of supervising the Department of Petroleum, Pricing and Distribution while the commissioner in charge of inter-party dialogue, Comrade Jonah Egba will now head the Grants and Donor Agency and will also be in charge of Economic Empowerment and Poverty Reduction.

Governor Elechi stated further that the state commissioner for environment, Chief David Egbu would shift to the Department of Solid Minerals while the commissioner in charge of Border Peace and Conflict Resolution, Chief Donatus Aja would wind down the Department just as Chief Egba winds down the Department of Inter-party Dialogue.