Mohammed Shosanya
Five Commissioners in Rivers State,Wednesday dropped their resignation letters to the state Governor, Siminialayi Fubara, resigning their membership as part of the cabinet.
The Commissioners include: Professor Chinedu Mmom, Commissioner for Education; Mrs. Inime Chinwenwo Aguma, Commissioner for Social Welfare and Rehabilitation; Austen Ben-Chioma, Commissioner of Environment, Dr. Jacobson Nbina, Commissioner for Transport and Dr. Gift World, Commissioner for Housing.
The Commissioners’ resignations were conveyed in a separate letters dated Wednesday, May 15, 2024 and addressed to the Governor through the Secretary to the state government, Dr Tammy Danagogo, cited hostile work environment and the heightened political crisis as their reasons for resigning.
Recall that while two other pro-Wike Commissioners, Alabo Dax-Kelly (Former Commissioner of Works) and Emeka Woke (Commissioner for Special Projects) resigned their appointments on the grounds of taking up a Federal appointments, Professor Zacchaeus Adangor, former Attorney-General and commissioner for Justice and Isaac Kamalu, former Commissioner for Finance, resigned after they both rejected their redeployments to other ministries within the state government.
The resignation letter for Prof Mmom reads, “I write to formally tender my resignation as a member of the Rivers State Executive Council as the Honourable Commissioner for Education with effect from today the 15th day of May, 2024.
“It is a truism that a calm, safe and friendly environment would stimulate efficient service delivery and enhanced productivity. It is however unfortunate to note that my current workspace has become toxic and no longer guarantees a favourable environment to enable me to realize my set targets for the education sector in the state.
“There is loss of trust, animosity and sharp division among colleagues in the same cabinet which is unhealthy and very unfortunate.”
The letter for Mrs Aguma states: “Pursuant to the current unconducive working environment, it is imperative to tender my resignation as Commissioner for Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, Rivers State.
“I resign with all sense of responsibility especially as there is no room for progression and development in the workplace.”
Ben-Chioma’s resignation letter reads, “My decision to resign is due to the political crisis befalling our dear Rivers State and other personal reasons.”
The letter of Nbina states: “My decision to resign is due to the unresolved political crisis in our dear state leading to lack of trust and apathy.”
