Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma has sworn-in four new Commissioners with a charge on them to avoid corruption and serve the people sincerely.

The Governor who performed the swearing-in ceremony on Wednesday at the Executive Council Chambers, Government House Owerri said the ceremony is symbolic in many respects because “oath taking signals readiness to serve with commitment, diligence and honesty.”

Those who were sworn-in as Commissioners were Dr. Mrs. Doris Nkeiruka Uzoka Anite (Ministry of Finance and Coordinating Economy), Prof. Boniface Ginikanwa Nwogu (Ministry of Science and Technology), Mazi Uche John Ohia (Ministry of Tourism) and Dr. Bartholomew Chukwunonye Okorochukwu (Ministry of Health).

It was also on a day Governor Uzodimma inaugurated the six- member Board of the Imo Broadcasting Corporation (IBC), Owerri.

The governor charged the Commissioners to do everything possible to avoid the banana pill of corruption as “there is no window or door to corruption in the Shared Prosperity Government of his administration.”

He explained that the Commissioners were chosen to reinvigorate and fuse in new blood into the Cabinet for the journey ahead.

Furthermore, he reminded the new appointees that “the job is a very serious one” and “they need to be constantly on their toes to justify their commitment in service of Imo State and the confidence reposed in them.”

Governor Uzodimma admonished them to “serve transparently with accountability and honesty at the back of their mind always,” noting that “the mandate being handed over to them is to serve Imo people with all at their disposal.”

The Governor however reminded both old and new members of the Executive Council that there is no permanent seat or portfolio for any member, “rather performance determines the tenure of a council member and the portfolio he/she bears.”

He reiterated government’s commitment to the welfare of the civil servants and teachers in Imo State, insisting that over 42,000 verified and cleared civil and public servants in the State have been paid their salaries up to date with 10,000 workers discovered to be ghost workers.

Also, he said of the 947 civil servants who are yet to be paid many of them were found to be receiving double salaries and cannot be paid by the government until they come up to explain what transpired and how they plan to refund such public funds they fraudulently took from government.

However, the Governor did not mince words to say that while efforts are being made to sustain payment of pensioners salary and gratuities, government cannot afford to pay gratuities now that have accumulated to over N58billion.

“In the past the Civil Service was excluded from governance but we have made efforts to return the system to its former glory,” the Governor explained.

Governor Uzodimma also inaugurated the Board Chairman and Members of Imo Broadcasting Corporation (IBC) Owerri.

They are Hon. Emma Dike (Chairman) and Sir James Egbuchulam, Director-General, IBC as Secretary.

Other members include Engr. Onwuelingo Okechukwu, Ms. Ify Onyegbule, Sir John Uchechukwu Nnabuihe, and Sir Kennedy Amanze who represents the Ministry of Information and Strategy.

The Governor congratulated the new appointees and wished them well.

In her appreciation speech on behalf of her colleagues, Dr. (Mrs.) Anite thanked the Governor and Imo people for trusting in their capacity to serve and pledged they will do so with honour and distinction. She also promised that they will not to disappoint the Governor, the Government and the people of Imo State.

•PHOTO: From L-R; Dr Bartholomew C Okorochukwu, Commissioner for Health, Dr Doris Nkiruka(Uzoka) Anite, Finance and Co-ordinating Economy, Governor Hope Uzodimma, Prof Boniface G Nworgu, Commissioner for Science and Technology and Mazi Uche John Ohia, Commissioner for Tourism in a group Photograph after their Swearing-in by the Governor at the Government House, Owerri

Update news