By Timothy Samuel
Ebonyi State Governor Francis Nwifuru has announced that he has suspended Dr. Moses Ekuma, the state commissioner for health, for three months due to his failure to demonstrate the ability to lead the ministry.
Nwifuru made this statement on Wednesday in Abakiliki while speaking to various sector players at the citizens’ participation forum for the proposed budget for 2025.
Despite having a wealth of skilled staff, he claimed that the health ministry “is sick”.
“A person in a position of power should be aware that it entails many duties.
“Those in positions of authority should fulfill their mandates and not be lazy in their work,” he remarked.
He lamented that despite significant government investment in the health system, little had been accomplished.
To provide supplies and equipment to the state’s main healthcare facilities, one contractor raised N3 billion.
The governor claimed that despite the government spending billions of naira to upgrade the state’s general hospitals and primary healthcare facilities, nothing has changed.
Additionally, he stated that the government will form committees to examine medical institutions around the state.
We have achieved 60% delivery through a number of approaches, including drug revolving funds for general hospitals.
When someone gets sick in a rural region, we are outfitting the medical facilities so they may get care right away before being sent to specialized hospitals,” he stated.
According to Nwifuru, the health officials will operate the fully restored medical facilities on their own to ensure their viability.
The physicians would earn money for the government as well as for themselves and other medical professionals.The state broadcasting service, which would operate as a public liability firm, will be subject to the same rules.
The governor stated that surplus employees will be transferred to other ministries and that the establishment’s earnings would be utilized to operate it.
Adding that more would be punished for inefficiency, he cautioned commissioners and other public officials to take their responsibilities seriously.
They have had the chance to come to terms with their obligations.
“Anyone who is making jokes should do so in their own home,” he continued, referring to the year and a half we have been in government. Some of the stakeholders who spoke during the forum praised the governor for his “inclusive style of governance” and promised to continue supporting his administration, according to the News Agency of Nigeria. (Nan)
