Suspension Of  Commissioners, Aides Has Nothing To Do With My Daughter’s Birthday Party –  Ebonyi Gov

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, has refuted claims suggesting that he wielded the big stick against his political appointees over their failure to attend his six-year old daughter’s birthday party.

The Source reports that Governor Nwifuru had on Monday July 28,2025 slammed a one month suspension on 87 of his aides, including 25  Commissioners, 14 Senior Special Assistants, SSAs, 24  Special Assistants SAs and 22 Permanent Secretaries for absenting themselves from a Government function.

According to a Government Statement, the affected appointees throughout the period of suspension, will not enjoy official pecks including salaries.

They are also not to sign any official documents within the one month suspension period.

Expectedly, the action has continued elicit  widespread condemnation from not a few, particularly in the face of alleged claims that the  appointees may have been punished for not being part of the birthday celebration of the Governor’s daughter.

But in a statement from Monday Uzor, his Chief Press Secretary, the Governor insisted that the suspension order had nothing to do with his daughter’s birthday celebration.

According to the Governor’s spokesperson ,the officials were sanctioned for their failure to attend a major Government function – a basic school sports competition ,put together by the State’s Universal Basic Education Board UBEB.

The affected appointees were said to have refused  to attend the event despite the Governor’s directives for the them to join the Deputy Governor in representing him at the ceremony.

“The Governor was away and had to instruct his Deputy to represent him at the grand finale of the Basic School Sports competition organized by the Universal Basic Education Board UBEB.

“However, most of his Commissioners and appointees failed to attend.

“So when the Governor learnt about it, he had to take action ,as this was not the first time such a thing will be happening.

“And for that picture ( picture of the Governor’s daughter) circulating, it is unrelated to the suspension. It was taken at a private event hosted by the Governor’ in July”, Uzor stated.