Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State has undertaken a minor cabinet reshuffle, reassigning portfolios to four commissioners as part of his administration’s drive to enhance performance and align governance with his “People’s Charter of Needs” manifesto. The changes were announced on Tuesday, July 15, 2025, following a State Executive Council (EXCO) meeting held at the Government House in Abakaliki.

The redeployment saw key commissioners swapping ministries in a move the governor described as essential to reinvigorate his team and deliver on the government’s developmental agenda.

Among the notable changes:

• Mr. Jude Chikadibia Okpor, who previously served as the Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, has been moved to the Ministry of Rural Development.
• His former portfolio, the Ministry of Information and State Orientation, will now be overseen by Chief Ikeuwa Omebeh, who was previously the Commissioner for Rural Development. Chief Omebeh subsequently briefed the press on the outcomes of the EXCO meeting, marking his first official engagement in his new role.
• Professor Paul Awo Nwobasi, the erstwhile Commissioner for Education (Primary and Secondary), has been redeployed to head the Ministry of Border Peace and Conflict Resolution.
• Taking over the Ministry of Education (Primary and Secondary) is Dr. Donatus Ilang, who was formerly in charge of Border Peace and Conflict Resolution.

Governor Nwifuru urged the newly reassigned commissioners and other members of his council to reflect on their stewardship to the people of Ebonyi State and recommit themselves to the administration’s vision with renewed energy and dedication.

In a stern warning to other cabinet members, Governor Nwifuru reportedly gave the Commissioner for Environment, Victor Uzoma-Chukwu, and the Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Professor Amari Omaka, a six-month grace period to significantly improve their performance or face punitive measures, including possible removal from office.

During the EXCO meeting, the council also approved several strategic initiatives. These include a three-year strategic financial plan encompassing the Economic and Fiscal Update (EFU), Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP), and Budget Policy Statement (BPS), which are crucial steps towards preparing the state’s 2026 budget.

Furthermore, the government approved the installation of Independent Captive Power Generation Plants, with the first phase featuring a three-megawatt plant at the ICT University in Oferekpe, Agbaja, aimed at ensuring uninterrupted power supply to key institutions and industries. Ebonyi State also gained approval to participate in the Federal Government’s E-HEART initiative, a project focused on boosting energy availability in Health, Education, Agriculture, Rural Development, and Transportation, with the state committing to provide counterpart funding.

The reshuffle underscores Governor Nwifuru’s resolve to continually evaluate his cabinet’s effectiveness and implement changes necessary to achieve the objectives outlined in his “People’s Charter of Needs” for the benefit of all Ebonyians.