Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, has explained his decision to suspend the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Moses Ekuma, for three months, citing a lack of capacity to effectively manage the ministry. The suspension was announced during a citizens’ engagement forum on Wednesday, where the governor outlined plans for the state’s 2025 budget proposal.

Governor Nwifuru emphasized that the health ministry, despite being staffed with qualified personnel, has struggled to meet expectations. He expressed frustration that, despite significant investments in the sector, results have been lacking. “The health sector is sick,” he remarked, pointing out that substantial funds had been allocated for equipment and upgrades at healthcare facilities with little to show for it.

He also highlighted a specific case in which a contractor received N3 billion to supply equipment and consumables to primary healthcare centers, yet no significant improvements have been seen. This lack of progress has led to his decision to take action. “People in authority should not be lackadaisical,” Nwifuru stated, stressing the importance of leadership and accountability in government positions.

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To address these challenges, the governor announced plans to create committees to inspect health facilities across the state, ensuring that investments in the sector are not wasted. He also outlined measures to make health facilities more self-sustaining, including plans for doctors to generate revenue to fund their operations and staff salaries. This model, Nwifuru said, would also be applied to the state broadcasting service.

The governor’s remarks were well-received by stakeholders at the forum, many of whom praised his inclusive approach to governance and pledged continued support for his administration. However, Nwifuru made it clear that further actions would be taken against officials who fail to meet their responsibilities. “Anyone that is joking should do so in his or her house,” he warned, signaling that inefficiency would not be tolerated in his administration.