Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has reshuffled the state executive council with the addition of two Commissioners and one Special Adviser.
The Commissioners are: Salome Obiukwu, who now assumes office as Commissioner for Trade and Commerce, Chiemela Uzoije as Commissioner for Housing and Christian Enweremadu as the Special Adviser to the Governor on Agriculture.
Speaking during the swearing-in ceremony held at the Banquet Hall, Government House, Umuahia on Tuesday, Otti who announced cabinet adjustments, said that the former Commissioner for Trade and Commerce, Kingsley Nwokocha, will now serve as the Commissioner for Labour and Productivity.
The governor also revealed that the Ministry of Lands and Housing has been split into two separate portfolios to improve efficiency, noting that Chaka Chukwumerije now becomes the Commissioner for Lands.
Otti described the appointments as part of his administration’s strategy of periodically injecting fresh ideas to enrich the quality and broaden the scope of his administration’s performance.
He congratulated the trio for scaling through the rigorous nomination and screening process, reminded them of his administration’s zero-tolerance policy on corruption and warned that the government will not hesitate to sanction those found wanting.
Otti emphasised the need for the new officials to quickly settle into their roles, stressing that “there is practically no time for a honeymoon. We expect that you will quickly invite and welcome support from every available channel so that it can hit the ground running.
Otti used the occasion to highlight some of his administration’s achievements in the last 28 months, including improvements in road infrastructure, security, education, and healthcare.
In a vote of thanks on behalf of the newly sworn-in appointees, the Commissioner for Trade and Commerce, Obiukwu expressed gratitude to the Governor for finding them to serve the State.
She assured that they would discharge their duties to the glory of God and the good of Abia state.
