…Says he’d hand over to deputy if result turns positive
Clement Nnachi, Abakaliki
Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State has sent his samples for COVID-19 test to the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), in Abuja, with a declaration that he would hand over to his deputy if result is positive .
In a similar vein, GovernorUmahi has warned that his administration would relieve from duty any Accountant in the state’s Public Service that is not ICT compliant.
Governor Umahi made the declaration, on Thursday, in Abakaliki, the state capital, on the occasion of the swearing-in ceremony of the acting Chief of Staff, Mrs. Queen Agwu, two Commissioners and some chairmen/members of Boards and Parastatals.
The event was held at the Ecumenical Centre, Abakaliki.
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The governor said his resolve to send his samples to NCDC was because some government officials tested positive for COVID-19 recently after the budget review meeting which had majority of government functionaries in attendance.
Said he, “My samples and those officials involved in the budget review exercise have been sent to NCDC for testing, every other person that participated in the assignment should go for COVID-19 test.”
He said that the result of the test would be out, on Friday, July 3, 2020, stating that the citizenry would be notified of the outcome of the test.
The governor administered the oath of office on Mrs. Agwu, Mr. Orlando Nweze new Commissioner For Finance and Mr. Offor Okorie, Chairman Governing Board of Ebonyi Broadcasting Corporation (EBBC).
The governor also revealed that he redeployed his former Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Ogbonnaya Chukwu and some officials of the Ministry of Finance because they were not ICT-compliant .
“We need excellent people to man the offices of the Finance Ministry, the Auditor-General and Accountant General Offices, any Accountant that is not ICT Compliant will cease to work with us.
“It is a shame that most Accountants cannot account for financial receipts, expenditures incurred in the last five months.”
He said his administration has come up with new measures to tackle the spread of the virus.
Governor Umahi also said another meeting to discuss the new phase of the fight against COVID-19 would be held next week, adding that he may have to attend the meeting virtually if his test comes out positive.
