Otti reshuffles cabinet, assigns portfolios to Abia commissioners

Abia State Governor Alex Otti has reshuffled his cabinet, 15 months into his administration in the state.

Otti also assigned portfolios to six new commissioners, who were sworn in on Wednesday, August 14, 2024.

This was disclosed in a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ukoha Njoku, on Thursday,  August 15.

The new commissioners are David Kalu, Dr Uwaoma Ukandu, and Prof. Enoch Uche assigned to the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, Finance, and Health, respectively.

The governor also created the Ministry of Labour and Productivity with the former Commissioner for Transport, Sunny Onwuma, in charge.

Otti carved out the Ministry of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy from the Ministry of Information and Culture, with Matthew Ekwuribe as the commissioner.

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He also split the Ministry of Education into the Ministry of Secondary and Basic Education and the Ministry of Tertiary Education with Goodluck Ubochi and Prof. Uche Eme Uche, as Commissioners, respectively.

The Ministry of Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection was also carved out from the Ministry of Women Affairs with Dr Maureen Aghukwa as the commissioner.

The Ministry of Trade, Commerce and Industry was split into the Ministry of Trade and Commerce and Ministry of Industry, Small and Medium Enterprises with Kingsley Nwokocha and Mike Akpara as commissioners, respectively.

Dr Chimezie Ukaegbu, who was the Commissioner for Trade, Commerce and Industry, was redeployed to the Ministry of Transport.

However, the Ministry of Agriculture is yet to have a commissioner, after Prof. Monica Ironkwe resigned her appointment on July 16.

The Star