By Abdul Lauya
Ebonyi State Governor, Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, has suspended 87 top government officials for failing to attend an official state function.
The suspension, which took effect on Monday, July 28, 2025, affects 25 Commissioners, 22 Permanent Secretaries, 14 Senior Special Assistants, and 24 Special Assistants.
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Dr. Monday Uzor, who announced the suspension, said the affected officials would serve a one-month working suspension without pay.
During the suspension period, they are barred from signing any official document or performing any government-related function.
Commissioners were directed to hand over to their respective Permanent Secretaries, many of whom are also on the suspension list.
The move has jolted Ebonyi’s political and administrative circles, both for the scale of the action and the calibre of those affected.
Some of the most prominent names include Prof. Leonard Uguru, Dr. Moses Ekuma, Engr. Francis Ori, and Barr. Valentine Okike Uzo.
The full list of those suspended was published by Premium Times and independently confirmed by Eye Reporters.
While the specific event that triggered the suspension has not been officially disclosed, sources say it was a high-level policy function where attendance had been made compulsory.
Governor Nwifuru reportedly viewed the widespread absenteeism as a show of indiscipline and disrespect to his leadership.
Reactions have since poured in from across the state.
Some analysts have praised the governor’s decision as a strong message in favour of accountability and discipline in public service.
Others, however, argue that such a blanket action may paralyze key government functions and reflect deeper problems in communication and leadership coordination.
“This is a sharp way of enforcing order, but the risk is in stalling administrative continuity,” said a senior civil servant who asked not to be named.
Governor Nwifuru is no stranger to disciplinary measures.
Earlier this year, he suspended smaller groups of commissioners and aides for negligence and absenteeism.
The full list, obtained from Premium Times and confirmed by Eye Reporters, is as follows:
Commissioners
- Engr. Stanley Lebechi Mbam
- Prof. Leonard Uguru
- Dr. Mathew Nwobashi
- Prof. Nwogo Obasi
- Hon. Victor Chukwu
- Engr. Jude Okpor
- Barr. Ikeuwa Omebe
- Hon. Chidi Onyia
- Chief Oguzo – Offia Nwali
- Dr. Ben Uruchi Odo
- Dr. Donatus Ilang
- Dr. Mrs. Ngozi Obichukwu
- Dr. Moses Ekuma Ikenna
- Chief Richard Idike
- Barr. Mrs. Felicia Nwankpuma
- Hon. Chinedu Nkah
- Engr. Ogbonna Obasi Abara
- Mrs. Nkechinyere Iyioku
- Engr. Francis Ori
- Hon. Tochukwu Okorie
- Barr. Valentine Okike Uzo
- Chief Sunday Inyima
- Hon. Ogbonnaya Okorie
- Chief Elechi Elechi
- Hon. Stanley Ogbuewu
Senior Special Assistants
- Hon. Bassey Chukwu
- Mrs. Rose Ofoke
- Mr. Kerian Ofoke
- Hon. Anthony Nwegede
- Hon. Onu Nwonye
- Mrs. Lilian Nwachkwu
- Mr. Fred Nwogbaga
- Hon. Paul Nwogha
- Hon. Pius Nwoga
- Hon. Ali Ikechukwu
- Hon. Nwiboko Chukwuma
- Mrs. Esther Nwogha
- Barr. Caleb Onwe
- Hon. Chinedu Awo
Special Assistants
- Mr. Mbam Emmanuel
- Tobias Ogbonna
- Easy Okike Uzo
- Obinna Oko Enyim
- Chima Nnachi Okoro
- Nwali Amechi
- Dr. Sabinus Nwibo
- Okorie Jideofor
- Sunday Ogenyi
- Stanley Kamani
- Ikechukwu Jideofor
- Emeka Okpa Onwe
- David Aja
- Frank Uka
- John Nwangbo
- Ogbonna Melford Nwuruku
- Ifeanyi Ujebe
- Chima Ogbuagu
- Kizito Nwenyi
- Uwa Henry Ifeanyi
- Elechi Okechukwu Solomon
- Ibina John Ogbonna
- Mbam Ifeanyi D
- Nwigum Nonso Christian
Permanent Secretaries
- Dr. Lawrence Ezeogo
- Dr. Isioma C. Arunne‑Inyang
- Mrs. Rose Ibe
- Mrs. Ogechi Nwobasi
- Mrs. Anwu Theresa
- Dr. Lynda Alo
- Mr. Monday Nkwuda
- Mrs. Mary Ngozi Otozi
- Mrs. Martina Obiya
- Mrs. Ogechi Anaso‑Kalu
- Barr. Emmanuel Onwe
- Mr. Henry Nworie
- Mrs. Joy Mbam
- Mrs. Henrietta Ikechukwu Oruh
- Barr. Peter Ede
- Dr. Gabriel Odo
- Mrs. Mfon Williamson
- Ms. Alusi Felicia
- Mrs. Betty Uzoma
- Engr. Chukwuma Ojeogu
- Barr. Ikechukwu Alobu
- Mr. Fidelis Nwankwo
Whether this move inspires reform or deepens internal tensions remains to be seen.
But one message is clear: in Ebonyi under Nwifuru, absence from duty is a risk too high to take.
