Rivers State Administrator Suspends All Political Appointees, Effective Immediately

The Rivers State Administrator has announced the immediate suspension of all political office holders and appointees across the state.

A statement issued on Wednesday by the Chief of Staff to the Administrator of Rivers State confirmed that the suspension is in line with powers conferred on the state’s Administrator, Retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, by President Bola Tinubu.

The suspension affects a wide range of officials, including:

• The Secretary to the State Government (SSG)

• The Chief of Staff

• All Honourable Commissioners

• Chairmen and members of boards, councils of agencies, commissions, institutions, and parastatals

• All Special Advisers, Special Assistants, and Senior Special Assistants The statement further directed that these suspended officials hand over their duties to the Permanent Secretaries in their respective Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs). In instances where no Permanent Secretary is available, the most senior Director or Head of Administration is to take over responsibilities.

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This suspension order took effect on Wednesday, March 26, 2025.

Full Statement by the Rivers State Government:

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 OFFICIALS 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.

SIGNED,
THE CHIEF OF STAFF TO THE ADMINISTRATOR