Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu has in response to the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC said non-appointment of a large number of Commissioners in his cabinet does not affect the day-to-day running of government affairs.
The Abia State chapter of APC in a recent statement alleged that the governor’s refusal to appoint Commissioners into his cabinet following the dissolution of the state executive council earlier in the year affects governance.
Speaking in a radio programme in Umuahia monitored by ABN TV, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Onyebuchi Ememanka insisted that the governor is not constitutionally mandated to appoint a certain number of Commissioners, insisting that a cabinet is in place which runs activities of the government.
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According to the governor’s Spokesperson, it is prerogative of the Governor to decide the number of Commissioners to work with, maintaining that a duly constituted state executive council is in place and meets regularly.
He said the governor’s cabinet has about 10 members, adding that even though it may be a lean cabinet, that does not imply that there is a vacuum in governance.
“When you have the Governor, the Deputy Governor, the Chief of Staff, Deputy chief of staff, chief Ukpai who just died, you have the Head of Service, you have Commissioners for Finance, information, Health and Works in place.
“A cabinet that has about 10 members and you say there’s not cabinet? There’s a cabinet my brother. There is nothing left undone or unattended to because there are no Commissioners” he said.
While noting that appointment of Commissioners is important, Ememanka said top officials of various ministries, including Chief Accounting officers, Permanent Secretaries, Directors, and others keep their various ministries running.
While underlining that Commissioners are political heads of the various ministries, the governor’s aide added that Governor Ikpeazu understands their importance and will in due course take the appropriate steps.
