The government of Ebonyi state under Governor Francis Nwifuru has clarified that the suspension of top appointees for failing to attend a key government function was not related to a birthday party.
Reports had gone viral that the governor suspended the appointees consisting of SAs and Commissioner’s because they did not attend a private birthday party.
NEWSMAXNG has reported on July 26, that the Ebonyi State Government issued a public announcement that certain commissioners, senior aides, and coordinators were suspended for one month without salary for their absence at what was described as an “important government function.” See full list below;
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The Governor also directed that the affected officers should not sign any official document within the period of their suspension while Commissioners should hand over to their respective permanent Secretaries without any specific details about the event they were supposed to attend.
In the absence of any official clarification, speculations had grown on the internet that the said function was a private birthday party of the governor’s last child.
In reaction to the speculations, the Governor’s Special Assistant on Media, Leo Ekene Oketa on Wednesday, noted that the Governor’s official engagement was a state-recognized funeral at Abofia in Ebonyi Local Government Area.
He clarified that the Governor, who had intended to attend after returning from Abuja, experienced flight delays and subsequently delegated his Deputy to represent him as he directed all government officials to be present.
“That’s a false narrative. The governor’s official engagement for Friday July 25, 2025 was a funeral at a place called Abofia in Ebonyi LGA of the state.
“He was to come back from Abuja on the same day and attend. Due to Air peace delays on his flight on the said date, he instructed his deputy hoevrnor to represent him and directed all Government officials to be there.
“The SSA to the governor of state Affairs went ahead and sent a notification that the governor had directed that attendance be taken at the function.
“So, yesterday at the office, he requested for the attendance and directed the suspension of those who were not in attendance.”
Okata went ahead to clarify that the governor had warned against the state government officials being absent from government functions and only had to act this time.
He added; “This is not the first time the governor has warned about government officials absenting themselves from government functions. This time, he had to act.”
