Why Rivers Administrator Ibas suspended all political appointees, office holders

Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd), Rivers Sole Administrator, on Wednesday, suspended all political appointees and office holders in  the state with immediate effect.

The decision, as contained in a statement by the Chief of Staff to the Administrator,  said made under the powers granted to Ibas by President Bola Tinubu.

Those affected were the Secretary to the State Government, the Chief of Staff, all commissioners, chairpersons and members of boards, agencies, commissions, and parastatals, as well as all Special Advisers, Special Assistants, and Senior Special Assistants.

The statement directed the suspended officials to hand over to the Permanent Secretaries in their respective Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

Where no Permanent Secretary is in place, the most senior Director or Head of Administration will assume leadership.

Below is the statement:

GOVERNMENT OF RIVERS STATE

GOVERNMENT SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

THE RIVERS STATE GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCES THE SUSPENSION OF POLITICAL OFFICE HOLDERS AND APPOINTEES IN RIVERS STATE.

THIS IS PURSUANT TO THE POWERS CONFERRED ON THE ADMINISTRATOR OF RIVERS STATE, HIS EXCELLENCY, VICE ADMIRAL (RTD) IBOK ETE EKWE IBAS CFR, BY THE PRESIDENT, HIS EXCELLENCY, ASHIWAJU BOLA AHMED TINUBU, GCFR

THOSE SUSPENDED INCLUDE;

1.THE SECRETARY TO THE STATE GOVERNMENT

2. THE CHIEF OF STAFF
3. HONOURABLE COMMISSIONERS
4. CHAIRMEN AND MEMBERS OF ALL BOARDS, COUNCILS OF AGENCIES, COMMISSIONS, INSTITUTIONS, AND PARASTATALS.
5. SPECIAL ADVISERS, SPECIAL ASSISTANTS, AND SENIOR SPECIAL ASSISTANTS.

THIS SUSPENSION TAKES EFFECT FROM WEDNESDAY MARCH 26, 2025. THE AFFECTED OFFICERS ARE TO HAND OVER TO THE PERMANENT SECRETARIES IN THEIR MDAS. WHERE THERE MAY BE NO PERMANENT SECRETARY, THEY ARE TO HAND OVER TO THE MOST SENIOR DIRECTOR/HEAD OF ADMINISTRATION

THIS IS SIGNED BY THE CHIEF OF STAFF TO THE ADMINISTRATOR