Rivers Sole Administrator, Ibas fires all Fubara-appointed officials

Rivers State Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral (Rtd) Ibok-Ete Ibas, has suspended all political officeholders appointed by the embattled Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

The directive, issued yesterday, also mandates the Heads of Local Government Administration (HLGAs) across the state’s 23 local government areas to submit reports on their councils’ activities.

The suspension affects the Secretary to the State Government, the Chief of Staff, all Commissioners, as well as chairpersons and members of boards, commissions, agencies, and parastatals. Special Advisers, Special Assistants, and Senior Special Assistants are also included in the directive.

According to the state government, the action aligns with the powers conferred on the Sole Administrator by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. A statement from the Chief of Staff to Ibas confirmed that all affected officials must hand over to the Permanent Secretaries in their ministries, departments, and agencies.

The most senior Director or Head of Administration will take charge when a Permanent Secretary is unavailable. This directive takes effect from Wednesday, March 26, 2025.

On the same day, Ibas swore in Prof. Ibibia Lucky Worika as the new Secretary to the State Government at the Government House, Port Harcourt. The Sole Administrator urged Worika to bring his extensive expertise in law, policy, and governance to bear in restoring order and public trust in Rivers State.

He described the appointment as a strategic move, emphasizing that Worika’s role would be crucial in ensuring transparency, accountability, and stability in the state. He further noted that the new SSG must begin work immediately and collaborate with civil servants to ensure governance remains functional during this transition.

In a separate directive, Ibas ordered the Heads of Local Government Administration to submit reports on the activities of their respective councils.

A memo issued on March 24 by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Local Government Affairs, Dr. Itong Awani, outlined that the reports should include details on the functions of the council, number of staff categorized by cadre, sources of revenue, ongoing and completed projects over the past two years, as well as achievements, challenges, and recommendations.

The reports were due by Wednesday, March 26, 2025, for onward transmission to the Government House, Port Harcourt. The directive follows the Supreme Court ruling that voided the election of local government chairpersons, leading to the appointment of new administrators by the suspended Governor Fubara.

Ibas emphasized that the reports would be crucial in evaluating the performance of local government councils and ensuring accountability in governance.