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COVID-19: Umahi suspends appointees over "laxity" in monitoring motorists

Ebonyi State governor, Engr. David Nweze Umahi, has taken punitive measures against his appointees "for failing to effectively monitor some borders and entrances into the state, against the backdrop of COVID-19 pandemic and ban on inter-state travels".

In a statement made available to Paulokahblog Sunday afternoon, which was signed by the Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Barr. Orji Uchenna Orji, Umahi suspended all Development Centre (DC) coordinators in Afikpo North and Ivo Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state "with immediate effective".

Similarly, Umahi ordered for all political appointees from the aforementioned LGAs, including all traditional rulers, to be placed on half salary "until normalcy is returned".

Furthermore, Umahi ordered that the Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy Matters and Rural Development and the Ministry's  Permanent Secretary are to serve one month working suspension without salaries, and "if there is no improvement in the running of the LGAs they will be removed".

The statement reads in part: "His Excellency, Governor David Nweze Umahi, has noted with displeasure the unbecoming attitudes of some political office holders, task force members, traditional rulers, and town union leaders towards, the enforcement processes and laid down rules in our fight against Coronavirus pandemic in the state.

"Illustratively, the governor was on routine monitoring visit to Afikpo North and Ivo Local Government Areas on Saturday, 9th May 2020, between the hours of 6.30 pm and 12 mid night and noticed compromises by the public office holders, COVID-19 task force, traditional rulers and town union leaders at the borders and entry points, thereby  giving way for the passengers from epicentre states to come into Ebonyi State unchecked. 

"The Governor personally intercepted over ten passenger vehicles with over 50 passengers coming from Abia, Rivers and Lagos States. Even the few taskforce members seen on the road took bribes and allowed the passengers to pass. The governor, therefore, had no option than to arrest those taking bribe at those borders and they are currently  cooling-off  at the COVID-19 Holding Centre in Abakaliki."

He added: "While in Ohaozara Local Government Area, the governor observed that the Taskforce did a good job at the borders in the day, but at night no one was seen on duty except the Army and a few youths in one location. In another development, the governor observed that security shades are yet to be constructed at the borders in the said Local Government Areas, contrary to his directive.

"Consequently, the Governor has directed that the Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy Matters and Rural Development is to immediately  account to the Governor before Wednesday morning, 13th May 2020, the monies released to each of the Local Government Councils for the Anti-Coronavirus Programme."

Continuing, he said: "The governor is considering reviewing all appointments, to ensure the retention of only those persons who have the capacity and will to sustain this fight to save our people from the scourge of Coronavirus pandemic. The governor is perplexed by the attitudes of some security officials, whose checkpoints are used to pass people into Ebonyi State, despite all our efforts to motivate them in their professional duties especially in the face of this pandemic.

"All political appointees, especially State Executive Council members, are directed to move and secure their communities and ensure there are no more leakages at their borders. All Development Centre Coordinators in Afikpo North and Ivo  LGAs are hereby suspended from office effective, Sunday, 10th May, 2020. They are to handover to member-one in their respective Development Centres, including their official vehicles. 

"All political appointees from those two LGAs are to remain on half salary until normalcy is returned, including all traditional rulers from Afikpo North and Ivo LGAs. The Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy Matters and Rural Development and the Ministry's  Permanent Secretary are to serve one month working suspension without salaries, and if there is no improvement in the running of the LGAs, they will be removed."

He added: "The Chairman and leadership of Ebonyi State Association of Town Unions is hereby suspended. The governor will dissolve all town unions this month if the situation of border leakage does not improve. Any state health worker that fails to be on his or her duty post from this Sunday, 10th of May 2020, shall lose his or her job. 

"The governor sincerely appreciates some of the Council Chairmen, DC Coordinators and Anti- Coronavirus Committee members that have made a difference in this fight against the deadly virus. In the days ahead, he shall do more to secure the lives of our people. The governor, therefore, enjoins us all to take this fight against COVID-19 seriously to keep our people safe, while assuring the good of people of Ebonyi State of his commitment to victory over this coronavirus pandemic."

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