RismadarVoice Reporters
September 19, 2026
Ebonyi State Governor Francis Nwifuru has sacked his Commissioner for Works, Stanley Lebechi Mbam, just months after reinstating him following an earlier suspension over alleged dereliction of duty.
The governor announced Mbam’s removal on Saturday and ordered him to immediately hand over government property in his possession, including his official vehicle, to the Secretary to the State Government. No reason was given for the sack.
Mbam was also directed to transfer responsibility for the Ministry of Works to the Permanent Secretary.
SECOND MAJOR ACTION AGAINST MBAM IN 2026
Nwifuru had on February 28 suspended Mbam indefinitely over concerns about the pace of work and alleged dereliction of duty in the Works Ministry. Commissioner for Infrastructure Development for Concession, Ogbonnaya Obasi Abara, was also suspended.
Three days later, Mbam publicly acknowledged shortcomings in meeting the administration’s expectations and appealed to the governor for another opportunity to serve.
Nwifuru eventually recalled Mbam and other suspended officials on May 3, allowing the commissioner to return to office before Saturday’s dismissal.
The latest decision therefore brings Mbam’s return to the Works Ministry to an end after about four months.
INFRASTRUCTURE REMAINS GOVERNMENT PRIORITY
The removal comes against the backdrop of the Nwifuru administration’s repeated emphasis on infrastructure delivery and effective governance in Ebonyi State.
In the statement announcing the sack, the governor assured residents that his administration remained committed to providing effective governance and improving public infrastructure.
Mbam’s removal also comes during a politically active period in the state ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Nwifuru recently directed newly sworn-in local government chairmen to mobilise grassroots support for the All Progressives Congress, warning that their political performance in their respective councils would be taken into account.
The governor, however, has not publicly linked Mbam’s dismissal to infrastructure performance, political activities or any other specific issue, leaving the immediate reason for his removal undisclosed.
