Uduaghan Sacks Finance Commissioner

JETHRO IBILEKE/Asaba

Nigeria’s Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan has sacked the
Commissioner for Finance, Bernard Okumagba.

Though no official reason was given for his sack, it was reliably gathered that the decision to drop Okumagba from the cabinet was reached at the State Executive Council meeting held in Asaba, the state capital.

At the Council meeting today, Governor Uduaghan asked Okumagba to leave and directed another commissioner to take charge of activities at the Finance ministry immediately.

Okumagba who was sworn-in along with 29 other civil commissioners in July, 2011, became the first to be relieved of the commissionership appointment.

“Yes, it is true, the commissioner was dropped today. I think the decision was taken during the executive council meeting,” the source said.

In the meantime, the Commissioner for Economic Planning, Kenneth Okpara is to act as the Commissioner of Finance.

Speculations have been rife in the state about imminent cabinet reshuffle by Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan.