The Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, has suspended all political appointees and officeholders in the state with immediate effect.
On Wednesday, the Chief of Staff to the Administrator announced that this decision was made under the authority given to Ibas by President Bola Tinubu.
This action impacts the Chief of Staff, all commissioners, chairpersons and members of various boards, agencies, commissions, and parastatals, as well as all Special Advisers, Special Assistants, and Senior Special Assistants.
The statement instructed the suspended officials to transfer their responsibilities to the Permanent Secretaries in their ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs). Without a permanent secretary, the most senior director or head of administration would take over leadership.
This order from the Sole Administrator was issued just a day after the State’s Head of Service, Dr. George Nwaeke, resigned with immediate effect.
Vice-Admiral Ibas assumed office last week following President Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State.
The emergency, which was communicated during a national broadcast last Tuesday, resulted in the suspension of Governor Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu, and all elected officials of the Rivers State House of Assembly. This suspension is intended to last for an initial period of six months.
