BREAKING: Governor Okowa sacks commissioners, SSG, all advisers, others

By Unue Emeka,

Barely 72-hours after cautioning Urhobo politicians for jumping the gun ahead of the Delta 2023 governorship election, Governor of Delta State, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa has announced the dissolution of the State Executive Council with immediate effect.

The governor also sacked the Secretary to the State Government, the Chief of Staff, and all Special Advisers with immediate.

Their sack is coming barely 72 hours after Governor Okowa frown at some of his aides who last week declared their intention to take over his job.

Advocate.ng gathered that the governor informed the former commissioners and members of the state executive council of his decision to dissolve the Exco during the State Executive Council meeting today afternoon.

It was further gathered that the governor has directed all former commissioners and members of the state executive council to hand over to Permanent Secretaries of their various ministries.

Also affected by the dissolution are Special Advisers, the Secretary to State Government, Senior Political Adviser, Chief Strategist of the government, and the Chief of Staff.

The immediate past Commissioner for Information, Mr. Charles Aniagwu who was accompanied by the Chief Press secretary to the Governor, Mr. Olisa Ifeajika, made the disclosure while briefing journalists on some of the decisions reached at the Council meeting held at Government House, Asaba, and said that the dissolution was part of an effort to restructure governance for better service delivery to Deltans.

Mr. Aniagwu added that before announcing the dissolution of State Exco, the governor thanked all members of his government for their contributions both those who have been there in the past six years and those who joined the train two years ago.

According to him, members of the dissolved Executive Council have been advised to hand over government property in their possession to the most senior government officials in their respective offices.

“The State Executive Council has been dissolved. All Commissioners are to hand over to their Permanent Secretaries with immediate effect.

“All Special Advisers are also to hand over to the person who is next to them including the Chief Strategist of the government and of course including the Chief of Staff, the SSG, and the Senior Political Adviser.

“The governor, before announcing the dissolution of exco, thanked all members of his government for their contributions both those who have been there in the past six years and those who joined the train two years ago,” Aniagwu said.

Meanwhile, the former Information Commissioner disclosed that prior to the dissolution, the State Exco approved the construction and upgrade of facilities in the three newly established universities with the sum of N2.8 to facilitate their seamless take-off.

He said that the State Exco also approved the establishment of three new secondary schools at Otor-Iyede in Isoko North, Forcados in Burutu and Bomadi as well as a primary school in Ibusa town in Oshimili North Local Government Area.

Mr. Aniagwu further disclosed the dismissal of Mr. Bernard Onomovo over his involvement in the illegal inclusion of names into the state government’s payroll was also approved.

While saying that Exco equally approved the participation of the state in the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) oil palm initiative where over seven billion naira is to be accessed through cooperative, he disclosed that approval was also given for the construction of Equator Street and adjoining roads in Osubi, Okpe Local Government Area of the state.