Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia on Monday in Umuahia performed the swearing in ceremony of 20 Commissioners as members of the State Executive Council which a charge to them to be committed to the growth and transformation of the state.
He said that the responsibility of being commissioners should be seen as a privilege and an opportunity to evolve ideas to help actualise the vision of the government.
He urged the commissioners to ensure that their decisions and activities would continually be in tune with the determination of the government to build the state.
“We are going to lay emphasis on agriculture, trade and commerce, oil and gas and transformation of Abia to be the SME capital of Nigeria.
“The destiny and liberation of our economy lies on these five pillars.
“The other ministries are going to be enablers that will drive these five pillars.
“Therefore no one ministry is superior to the other as we are prepared to give you all you need to perform at optimum capacity,” Ikpeazu said.
The governor pledged that his administration would maintain zero tolerance for bribery and corruption, adding that the government was poised to record developmental strides in the economy.
He urged the commissioners to eschew all forms of parochial sentiments and perform their tasks to uplift the lives of the people.-
Two journalists Eziuche Ubani, Bonnie Iwuoha and seventeen others were those sworn in as Commissioners.
Ubani and Iwuoha were assigned Works and Information portfolios respectively
The other commissioners and their portfolios are as follows: Chiefs Chinwe Nwanganga – Sports, Uche Ihediwa – Lands, Obinna Oriaku – Finance, Osita Igbe – Housing, Tony Ezebuiro – Public Utilities, Mrs. Kate Enwereji Nwosu – Trade and Investments and Mrs. Chinedum Brown – Women Affairs.
Others are Mr. Chima Mgbeke – Poverty Alleviation, Hagler Okorie- Youth Development, Gab Igboko – Environment, Charles Ogbonnaya – Local Government/Chieftaincy Affairs, Professor Ikechi Mgbeoji – Education, Professor John Ahukanna – Health, Mrs. Nnenna Obewu-Onwuka – Transport, Stanley Eche – Petroleum.
Ebo Duke Ihekwereme – Urban and Physical Planning and Chief Henry Ikoh- Industry.
The post of Attorney General and Justice Commissioner, to which Chief Umeh Kalu was appointment in May, is still held by him.
The Finance Commissioner Mr. Obinna Oriaku on behalf of the sworn-in commissioners thanked the governor for finding them suitable to serve the state and pledged to serve according to his charge and by so doing contribute to the state development as dictated by him
(The Easterner, NAN)
