By Angela Nwaeze Mbaocha
Ebonyi state Governor, Engr. David Nweze Umahi, has given reasons for the appointment of the Secretary to the State Government Dr. Kenneth Ugballa, as a commissioner.
The SSG, who was among the commissioners sworn in by the governor on Wednesday, had last month taken oath of office as the Secretary to State Government.
However, Gov. Umahi cleared the air on Wednesday during the swearing in when he explained to the public why he appointed Ugballa as the coordinating commissioner.
He said that the reason for appointing Ugballa as commissioner was to afford him the full right to become a member of the Executive, and to coordinate other commissioners other than the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, whom, he said, remains the chairman of the State Executive Council Meeting.
“You may begin to wonder why the Secretary to State Government was sworn in. Dr. Ugballa is still the secretary to the state government, but, all Secretaries to government at federal levels are coordinating commissioners. Although, I can make one of the commissioners coordinating commissioner, but, I prefer to make my SSG, coordinating commissioner
“The way it works is that at EXCO, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, still remains the number one commissioner. But, protocol-wise, outside EXCO, Secretary to state government (SSG) comes ahead of other Commissioners, coordinating their offices.
“So, it is done to make my work easier so that he will have the authority to be a member of EXCO, and should be able to follow all the decisions of EXCO alongside other commissioners”, he stated.
Also, governor Umahi charged the newly appointees to come up with new ideas which will help them to create wealth in their various offices.
He made it crystal clear that their appointments were not a political patronage, but rather, proof of being in a hurry to develop the state more.
And he specifically told the coordinators of Development Centers to ensure effective supervision of schools and primary health Centers in their Development Centers.
Umahi threatened to sack any political office holder that did not live up to expectations.
Others sworn in were members of the Local Government Advisory Committee, and 13 out of the 64 Coordinators of Development Centers.
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