Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has made significant changes to his cabinet, just 15 months into his administration. The reshuffle comes after the resignation of two commissioners and the need to reorganize the state government’s structure.
The recent cabinet changes include the resignation of Prof. Monica Ironkwe, who was the Commissioner for Agriculture, and Mr. Chima Oriaku, who served as Commissioner for Science and Technology. The Chief Press Secretary to Governor Otti, Ukoha Njoku, clarified that these officials were not dismissed but chose to resign from their positions.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Njoku expressed the governor’s gratitude for the service of the resigning commissioners. “The Executive Governor thanked them for their service and sacrifice to the State and wished them well in their future endeavors,” Njoku said.
Otti has now filled the vacancies with six new commissioners and reorganized several ministries to better address the needs of the state. The new appointments and ministry changes are aimed at improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the state government’s operations.
- Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation: David Kalu has been appointed as the new commissioner for this ministry.
- Ministry of Finance: Dr. Uwaoma Ukandu will now oversee the Ministry of Finance.
- Ministry of Health: Prof. Enoch Uche has been assigned to the Ministry of Health.
- Ministry of Labour and Productivity: This new ministry will be headed by Sunny Onwuma, who was previously the Commissioner for Transport.
- Ministry of Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy: Formerly part of the Ministry of Information and Culture, this new ministry will be managed by Matthew Ekwuribe.
- Ministry of Education: The former Ministry of Education has been split into two separate entities:
- Ministry of Secondary and Basic Education, led by Goodluck Ubochi.
- Ministry of Tertiary Education, with Prof. Uche Eme Uche as Commissioner.
- Ministry of Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection: Created from the former Ministry of Women Affairs, this ministry will be overseen by Dr. Maureen Aghukwa.
- Ministry of Trade and Commerce: Kingsley Nwokocha will manage this newly formed ministry, which was previously part of the Ministry of Trade, Commerce, and Industry.
- Ministry of Industry, Small, and Medium Enterprises: This new ministry will be managed by Mike Akpara.
- Ministry of Transport: Dr. Chimezie Ukaegbu, formerly the Commissioner for Trade, Commerce, and Industry, has been reassigned to the Ministry of Transport.
Otti’s recent cabinet reshuffle reflects his administration’s effort to address key areas of governance more effectively. The resignation of the former commissioners created an opportunity for Otti to reorganize and reassign roles within his government. This restructuring aims to streamline operations and improve service delivery across various sectors.
The changes come as Otti’s administration seeks to tackle ongoing challenges in Abia State, including economic development, healthcare, and educational reforms. By creating new ministries and appointing new commissioners, the governor hopes to enhance the state’s capacity to address these issues.
The Ministry of Agriculture, which has yet to appoint a new commissioner following Prof. Ironkwe’s resignation, remains a key area of concern. Agriculture is a crucial sector for Abia State, and the appointment of a new commissioner will be important for continuing efforts to improve agricultural productivity and support local farmers.
