Following the Inauguration of the Judicial Panel of Inquiry on the Recovery of Properties and Funds belonging to Abia State Government, the Governor, His Excellency, Dr. Alex Otti, OFR, has directed the immediate suspension of the Head of Service (HOS) and Permanent Secretaries in the State civil service.
Consequently, the Governor has approved the appointment of Lady Joy Maduka, Director, Ministry of Education, as Acting Head of Service (HOS).
All the Permanent Secretaries are by this notice directed to hand over to the most senior Director in their respective Ministries, Departments and Agencies with exception of the following:
1. John Pedro Iroakazi – Clerk of the House;
2. Mrs. U. G. Uche Ikonne – Solicitor General and the Widow of late PDP Gubernatorial Candidate in the last Election.
Also suspended are the Principals of all state-owned Nursing/Midwifery Training Institutions, pending investigations and directives.
Equally suspended is the Director of Nursing in the Ministry of Health, Nwosu Dorathy Njideka.
The former Head of Service, Sir Onyii Wamah has at the time officially handed over the leadership of the State Public Service to the Acting Head of Service, Lady Joy Maduka in obedience to the suspension of the State Head of Service and Permanent Secretaries in the State directive.
Handing over the Office of the State Head of Service to the Acting Head of Service, Sir Wamah harped on the inevitability of change which according to him is not negotiable.
The outgone HOS, expressed his preparedness to offer suggestions in any area of the Service requiring elucidation, and observed with profundity that the Acting Head of Service would work in tandem with the vision of the present administration under the Governor, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti.
Sir Wamah who was elated with the level of cooperation, dedication and honesty from the Staff, urged them to go beyond the good services they rendered to him to make the tenure of the Acting Head of Service very successful.
He congratulated Lady Maduka on her elevation as Acting Head of Service and sued that she justifies her appointment by employing her wealth of experience to make the Service better.
Responding, the new Acting Head of Service, Lady Joy Maduka appreciated God and the Governor, Dr. Alex Otti for the opportunity to serve as Abia Acting Head of Service and implored the unalloyed support and cooperation of the entire Abia work force.
