Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma has appointed himself as the interim Commissioner for Lands in the state.

This, the governor noted, was because of the need to restore the confidence of the residents in the lands ministry, according to a statement by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser, Oguwike Nwachuku, on Tuesday.

Uzodimma equally swore in 24 Commissioners and inaugurated 19 Special Advisers with other top political appointees, to constitute members of the newly expanded Executive Council.

The Governor, whose second term administration enters full throttle, administered the oath-taking ceremony on the appointees at the new Executive Council Chamber Government House in Owerri, the state capital, before assigning portfolios to the 24 Commissioners.

The statement read, “The Secretary to the State Government, Cosmos Iwu; the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Nnamdi Anyaehie; the Deputy Chief of Staff (Administration), Patrick Ekeji; the Deputy Chief of Staff (Operations), Sydney Agbor; the Deputy Chief of Staff (General Services), Ferdinand Uzodimma; the Political Adviser and Head of Political Bureau, Enyinnaya Onuegbu, and the Chief Press Secretary and Special Adviser, Media, Oguwike Nwachuku, were the first set of senior political appointees who were led in the oath taking rituals.

“In his remarks after the swearing-in and inauguration ceremonies were completed, Governor Uzodimma hinted that more appointments will still be made in due course to fill vacant positions in some critical ministries.”

Uzodimma urged all the Executive Council members to use their positions and inter-personal skills and relationships to ensure success in their administrative duties, while reminding them that “his reelection for a second tenure places enormous responsibilities and great expectations on the government and the appointees, hence there should not be room for excuses and complacency.

“The performance of the second tenure must be better than the first term.”

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

The Governor reiterated the importance of the oath of office the appointees took and reminded them that “it is not a mere ritual but a serious act that places huge responsibilities on your shoulders.”

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

Uzodimma, who noted that a Monitoring and Evaluation Unit had been established in his Office, said there would be quarterly assessments and evaluations of each of the appointees,

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

The event was attended by prominent personalities, including the Governor’s wife, Chioma Uzodimma; Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Chike Olemgbe; former Governor of Imo State, Ikedi Ohakim; Head of Service, Raymond Ucheoma, among others.

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