Akpabio sacks commissioner over emblem

Category: News Published on Wednesday, 16 January 2013 06:00

Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom state has sacked the state Commissioner of Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs Hellen Ukpe Ukpabio, as member of the state executive council.

Akpabio who announced the commissioners’ sack yesterday shortly after the Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebration in Uyo also ordered the immediate retirement of the Permanent secretary of the ministry, Mrs Arit Okpo.

Though no reason was given for the development in the letter which conveyed the directive, sources revealed that the commissioner was sacked following her failure to ‘wear the Armed Forces Remembrance Emblem’ during the celebration held at the Cenotaph, Uyo.

It was further gathered that the governor who was visibly angry over the shabby way the celebration was handled, immediately retired to his office and ordered the state commissioner of information, Mr Aniekan Umanah to announce the sack of the commissioner and the retirement of the permanent secretary of the ministry.

Ukpabio who was a director in the state ministry of education was appointed commissioner of Education in 2012, and later redeployed to the ministry of Women Affairs.