Gov. Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State has announced minor Cabinet reshuffle which affected Ministries of Information and Orientation; Environment, Rural Development and Primary and Secondary Education respectively.
Mr Ikeuwa Omebeh on Tuesday in Abakaliki announced the reshufflement while briefing newsmen on the outcome of the weekly State Executive Council meeting held on Monday presided by Gov. Francis Nwifuru.
The governor urged members of the council to reflect on their stewardship to the state and redirect their focus on the vision and mission of the present administration as encapsulated in the People’s Charter of Needs manifesto.
According to the statement, Mr Jude Okpor, Commissioner for Information and State Orientation was redeployed to the ministry of Rural Development while his counterpart at the Rural Development, Mr Ikeuwa Omebeh was to the Information and State Orientation.
In a similar vein, Prof Paul Nwobasi, Commissioner for Education (Primary and Secondary), was moved to the ministry of Border Peace and Conflict Resolution previously manned by Dr Donatus Illang while Illang is takes charge of ministry of Education (Primary and Secondary).now Commissioner for Border Peace and Conflict Resolution
“The Chairman of the council further charged all council members to redouble their commitments to the discharge of their duties.”
Omebeh, the new Information Commissioner who announced the minor cabinet reshuffle, said that Nwifuru gave the state Commissioner for Environment, Mr Victor Chukwu and his Tertiary Education counterpart, Prof Omari Omaka (SAN) six months to sit up or face some punitive measures.
The council as part of preliminary requirements for the commencement of action on the 2026 appropriation budget, received and approved the 2026-2028 Medium Term Expenditure Framework Work (MTEF).
“The MTEF is a strategic financial planning document that encompasses the Economic and Fiscal Update (EFU), the Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP), and the Budget Policy Statement (BPS) for the state over the next three years,” statement read.
In furtherance of the administration’s resolve to providing the enabling environment for industrial revolution in the state, Exco approved the supply and installation of Independent Captive Power Generation Plants to give 24hour metered electric.
The initiative would would supply power to specific public and private industries/institutions in the state.
‘The project is to commence with one unit of the plant that will generate three Megawatts and sited at ICT University Oferekpe, Agbaja.”
On Rural development, Exco approved the participation of Ebonyi State in the E-HEART project of the Federal Government of Nigeria and the subsequent payment of counterpart funding for the project.
“E-HEART is an acronym that stands for Energy for Health, Education, Agriculture, Rural Development, and Transportation,” it said.
“Council received and approved the Ebonyi Business Enabling Reform Action Plan (BERAP) 2024, which indicates the progressive performance of the state in the State Action on Business Enabling Reforms (SABER) Programme.
“This is intended to meet the World Bank eligibility criteria for implementation of SABER Programme in 2025.”
