Tension in Anambra politics as Governor Obiano fires 18 commissioners, other appointees
- Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra has sacked 18 commissioners and many other political appointees in his cabinet
- Oliver Okpala, a special assistant to the governor, said that Obiano's action was proper as he needs a fresh set of cabinet members in his new tenure
- Okpala said that if the governor intends to reappoint any of the sacked officers, it would be on the basis of a different contract
The state governor of Anambra, Willie Obiano, has relieved 18 commissioners in his cabinet of their official duties. Other persons sacked by the governor were political appointees in ministries, departments and agencies.
In a letter signed by Solo Chukwulobelu, the secretary to the state government, the governor ordered the affected officers to submit to their various permanent secretaries of their ministries, departments and agencies or to the senior civil servants in the absence of permanent secretaries, The Punch reports.
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The memo directed the affected appointees to hand over any project/vehicles in their possession to the office of the secretary to the state government on or before Friday, March 16.
The memo, copied to the office of the deputy governor, read: "His Excellency, Chief (Dr) Willie Obiano, Governor of Anambra State, has directed that all political appointees and non-civil servant, heads of MDAs in the state submit their handover 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 servant, heads of MDAs and SSAs/SAs under reference, are to also handover 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.”
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The memo was copied to the office of the deputy governor, amongst others. Oliver Okpala, a special assistant to the governor on media, also confirmed the incident.
Okpala remarked: "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.
“Governor Willie Obiano will start his second term on 17th of March. So, all those who served in the first term should go. If the governor wants to reappointment anybody; then it is a fresh contract. So, the disengagement of the political appointees is normal and proper.”
Meanwhile, Legit.ng reported that the senator representing Anambra South senatorial district, Senator Andy Uba, had condemned the violence between youths of Umunze and agents of the State Anti Robbery Squad (SARS).
Senator Uba stated this on Monday, March 5, in a statement sent to Legit.ng by his media office. He said he had mandated his constituency office staff to conduct an on-the-spot assessment of the situation and report back to him.
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Source: Legit.ng
