Uzodimma Assigns Portfolios To 24 Commissioners, Inaugurates New Cabinet

Senator Hope Uzodimma, Governor of Imo State, has sworn in 24 Commissioners and 19 Special Advisers, who, along with other top political appointees, will form the new expanded Executive Council as his second term administration gets underway.

On Tuesday, April 30, 2024, the Governor administered the oath-taking ceremony to the affected appointees at the new Executive Council Chamber Government House Owerri. He also immediately assigned portfolios to the 24 commissioners.

The State Government Secretary, Chief Cosmos Iwu, the Governor’s Chief of Staff, Barr. Nnamdi Anyaehie, the Deputy Chief of Staff (Administration), Chief Patrick Ekeji, the Deputy Chief of Staff (Operations), Barr. Sydney Emeka Agbor, the Deputy Chief of Staff (General Services), Chief Ferdinand Uzodimma, the Political Adviser and Head of Political Bureau, Barr. Enyinnaya Onuegbu, and the Chief Press Secretary and Special Adviser, Media, Chief Oguwike Nwachuk

Governor Uzodimma hinted in his remarks following the swearing-in and inauguration ceremonies that more appointments would be made in the future to fill vacant positions in some critical ministries.
However, in the interim, he assigned the position of Commissioner for Lands to his office as part of efforts to restore sanity in the ministry, where Imo people have recently lost trust in the ministry’s handlers due to avoidable demeanour.

Governor Uzodimma urged all Executive Council members to use their positions, interpersonal skills, and relationships to ensure success in their ministries, agencies, and departments, as well as the job at hand in general.

He reminded them that his reelection for a second term imposes enormous responsibilities and high expectations on the government and its appointees, so there should be no room for excuses or complacency.

“The performance of the second tenure must be better than the first,” he emphasised.

Governor Uzodimma once again raised the issue of the appointees’ personal integrity, noting that how Imo people perceive them is equally important to him.

He insisted that they “conduct themselves with decorum and full sense of responsibility.”

The Governor emphasised the significance of the appointees’ oath of office, reminding them that it is more than just a ritual and carries significant responsibility.

He reminded them that as public officers, they must “behave differently bearing in mind that the public will shine their searchlight individually and collectively” on them.

He advised them to recognise that their new position requires tough approaches, and that only those who persevere will triumph.

Governor Uzodimma informed the audience that the appointees were chosen based on their individual merit, so their “integrity and performance on the job is at stake, and a lot is expected of them from the Imo people and government.”

He reaffirmed his administration’s opposition to corruption and praised them for agreeing to his injunction to ensure the full implementation of the Shared Prosperity 3R Government based on the lessons they learned from their two-day retreat, and he asked them to “work the talk.”
As part of his performance-monitoring efforts, the Governor reminded the appointees that a Monitoring and Evaluation Unit had been established in his office, and that each of them would be assessed and evaluated quarterly.

 “There is no time to waste, and all eyes must be on the ball,” he exclaimed.

Barr COC Akaolisa, Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, expressed gratitude to the Governor for appointing them and invited them to share in the success of the government and Governor.

He promised that their team would “bring honour and not shame to their family” and that they would do their best to meet the expectations of the Governor, Government, and the people of Imo State.

The event was attended by prominent Imo personalities, including the Governor’s wife, Barr. Chioma Uzodimma, Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Chike Olemgbe, former Governor of Imo State, Chief Ikedi Ohakim, Head of Service, Barr. Raymond Ucheoma, Principal Secretary to the Governor, Dr. Irene Chima, the All Progressives Congress Chairman in Imo State, Dr. Macdonald Ebere, Chairman of Imo State Council of Traditional rulers, HRH Eze EC Okeke, and the C

Some relatives of the appointees were also present to witness the event.