GOVERNOR Willie Obiano of Anambra State has disengaged the 18 commissioners in his cabinet as well as others political appointees in Ministries, Departments and Agencies in the state.

A memo signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Solo Chukwulobelu, and obtained by our correspondent in Awka, ordered the affected officers to handover to permanent secretaries of their respective ministries, departments and agencies or to the most senior civil servants in the absence of permanent secretaries.

The letter directed the affected appointees to hand over any Project/Utility vehicles in their custody to the office of the Secretary to the State Government on or before Friday, 16th March 2018.

It also directed all SSAs/SAs to submit their Handover notes/reports to the Permanent Secretary, Office of the SSG.

The memo party read, “His Excellency, Chief (Dr) Willie Obiano, Governor of Anambra State, has directed that all political appointees and non-civil servant, heads of MDAs in the state submit their handover notes/reports on or before Friday 16th March 2018 to the Permanent Secretary of their respective MDAs, or to the most Senior Civil Servant there in the absence of a Permanent Secretary.

“All SSAs/SAs are to submit their Handover notes/reports to the Permanent Secretary, Office of the SSG.

“Further to the above, Political Appointees and non-civil servant, heads of MDAs and SSAs/SAs under reference, are to also handover any Government Project/Utility Vehicles in their custody to the Permanent Secretary, Office of the Secretary to the State Government on or before Friday, 16th March 2018.

The memo which was copied to the office of the deputy governor, amongst others, also directed that a copy of the Handover Note/Report be submitted to the Secretary to the State Government on or before Friday, 16th March 2018.

Reacting, a Senior Special Assistant to the governor on media, Mr Oliver Okpala said there was nothing new with the development.

It’s the proper thing to do in the circumstance. When a government is transiting to a new term, it’s proper to disengage all those who served in the former tenure.

“So, all those who served in the first term should go. If the governor wants to reappointment anybody; then it a fresh contract. So, the disengagement of the political appointees is normal and proper,” Okpala stated.

The governor who was re-elected on November 18, 2017, is expected to be sworn in for his second term on March 17, 2018.

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Gov. Willie Obiano of Anambra State sacks 18 commissioners, SAs, others